Released 3 September 1994 Anti EP
(1994) Amber
(1994) Release date 3 September 1994 Label Warp | Length 24:40 Artist Autechre Producer Autechre Genre Intelligent dance music | |
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Anti EP is the third EP by British electronic music duo Autechre, released by Warp Records on 3 September 1994. It is the only Autechre release — EP or otherwise — to have an explicit purpose for release.
Contents
Background
Anti EP was a protest against the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which would prohibit raves (described as gatherings where music is played), with "music" being defined as a "succession of repetitive beats." Sean Booth explained the band's strategy for the song "Flutter" by saying, "We made as many different bars as we could on the drum machine, then strung them all together."
The packaging for both compact disc and vinyl variants bore a sticker with a disclaimer about the repetitive nature of the rhythmic elements of "Lost" and "Djarum". The third track, "Flutter", was programmed to have non-repetitive beats and therefore "can be played at both forty five and thirty three revolutions"; but following their disclaimer, it was advised that DJs "have a lawyer and a musicologist present at all times to confirm the non repetitive nature of the music in the event of police harassment." The sticker acted as a seal, which was required to be broken in order to access the media enclosed in the packaging.
The profits from this release went to the British pressure group Liberty (the National Council for Civil Liberties.) The second half of the sticker featured information about Liberty, with this last statement: "Autechre is politically non-aligned. This is about personal freedom."
Despite "Flutter"'s ability to be played at two different speeds on vinyl, the CD version contains the song as played at 45 RPM. "Lost" and "Djarum" are featured at their standard 33 1⁄3 RPM speed. At 33 1⁄3 RPM, "Flutter" would be around 13:26 in length.
Track listing
All tracks written by Sean Booth and Rob Brown.
Songs
1Lost7:24
2Djarum7:20
3Flutter9:58