Aphex Twin

Kold

Richard D James is one of my favourite albums at this stage so I'm wondering which albums I should be getting next. I have Come to Daddy and I Care because you do. I'd imagine that a lot of his stuff could be pretty difficult to penetrate so I'll leave them until later.

John

Hangable Auto Bulb is a nice collection of two early EPs, very cool and easy to listen to by his standards.

Windowlicker is the perfect companion to Come to Daddy, the other "commericial" release

drukqs is his masterpiece, a mixture of difficult, beautiful and fun music. I cannot recommend it enough.

Chosen Lords is more of his old school style dance type stuff, I wasn't a huge fan of it but might be up your alley.

Selected Ambient Works II is the classic Aphex Twin album, dreamy and hypnotic.

Ventolin is an EP and it is quite harsh but I love it.

The Analogue Bubblebath EPs are well cool too, done under the name AFX rather than Aphex Twin.

According to my database I own the Girl/Boy EP too but I can't remember what it sounds like or if it's any good. Anything else out there I don't have or haven't heard.

ogy

The Richard D James album is my favourite, first track is amazing

radiospan

If you like Richard D James album, you should without doubt try to get Melodies from Mars first. It was recorded in the same era, very similar tracks, and it was never released.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodies_From_Mars

cornbb

The albums you have are all from roughly the same era, when he was big into digital production. Drukqs would be the next in line chronologically, it is a bit heavy going but is an amazing album.

Earlier and later albums have an analogue feel. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is an absolute necessity, it is a groundbreaking masterpiece of electronic music by anyone's standards and its very easy to listen to. If you buy one more Aphex Twin album ever, buy this one

Ambient Selections Vol II is great too but its definitely far more ambient/experimental so you might leave it til later.

Analord/Chosen Lords is his most recent release, lots of classic acid/303/808 sounds basically, I like it although its not as remarkable as his older stuff.

Dudess

Selected Ambient Works is great - much more melodic than the more recent stuff though. Some people I know who are into the later stuff don't think much of Selected Ambient Works and vice versa.

Scubadevils

Yeah I think Selected Ambient Works is my favourite....could be though because I have it since it came out all those years ago and have fond memories of that time.

I love Chosen Lords, has an old sound to it and would remind me more so of the early 90's.

I also really like Analogue Bubblebath 3 -

http://www.discogs.com/release/28763

For some reason Selected Ambient Works II hasn't quite clicked for me yet Only have a it a while and not listened much so maybe need to give more time. Think I'll give it a go again tonight.

Owenw

I'd recommend "Surfing on Sine Waves" by Polygon Window (one of Richard D. James many aliases).

If you like the less abrasive Aphex stuff, you might like the "Donkey Rhubarb" and "On" singles.

"26 Mixes for Cash" is also surprisingly good.

You can preview any of his releases on the Warp label.
1. Go to the Albums or Singles sections and click on the pale yellow tabs.
2. Click the word AUDIO next to the one of the track names and a player window will open and start playing.

Oh and if you haven't seen it already, check out the Monkey Drummer video on YouTube! The track is Mt. Saint Michel Mix+St. Michaels Mount from "Drukqs".

Kold

cornbb wrote: »

Earlier and later albums have an analogue feel. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is an absolute necessity, it is a groundbreaking masterpiece of electronic music by anyone's standards and its very easy to listen to. If you buy one more Aphex Twin album ever, buy this one

Guy in Plugd told me that he simply cannot come across a copy of this.

Dudess

Weird. Thought it would be one of the more available Aphex Twin albums.

Scubadevils

Felixdhc wrote: »

For some reason Selected Ambient Works II hasn't quite clicked for me yet Only have a it a while and not listened much so maybe need to give more time. Think I'll give it a go again tonight.

This has now clicked.

Owenw

Kold wrote: »

Guy in Plugd told me that he simply cannot come across a copy of this.

Have you tried the dance music section in HMV or Tower Records?
The basement level in HMV on Grafton Street can be good sometimes.

You can preview the tracks on Amazon.co.uk

cornbb

Dudess wrote: »

Weird. Thought it would be one of the more available Aphex Twin albums.

I would have thought so too. Well worth getting your paws on OP!

Felixdhc wrote: »

This has now clicked.

Awesome! I love when that happens

My fave track from SAW II: Shiny Metal Rods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYAqkJNIAgo

welcomeinjam

Dudess wrote: »

Weird. Thought it would be one of the more available Aphex Twin albums.

Nah I can't find it anywhere either everywhere seems to have selected ambient works volume 2 although I'm not a big fan of it I like it when it's used in films and shows like this sketch http://youtube.com/watch?v=7u4GS2gHQV4 but I find it can't of boring on it's own.

Kold

Yeah, Zavvi comfirmed, it's out of print. You're in Cork aren't you Dudess? :P

cornbb

Freaky! I didn't know it was so rare. Only one copy on ebay, bidding is at €10 with 6 days to go

Also a couple of copies available from Amazon

JLemmon

Hi
Yeah I looked for a long time to get Ambient works 1 but with no luck
eventually got an mp3 version on allofmp3, I wnet this route due to it's
scarceness, vol 2 is easy enough to get.
Btw, saw on the warp site earlier that The Black Dog album Spanners is deleted also but Bleep sell it on high quality mp3 officially.

Hermy

Felixdhc wrote: »

For some reason Selected Ambient Works II hasn't quite clicked for me yet Only have a it a while and not listened much so maybe need to give more time. Think I'll give it a go again tonight.

Felixdhc wrote: »

This has now clicked.

I remember the first time I bought Selected Ambient Works II, it wasn't long before I returned it to the shop. It went completely over my head. I now consider it a modern masterpiece. The very last track, Match Sticks, is astonishing.
Classics and Selected Ambient Works '85 - '92 were my first Aphex Twin purchases after hearing Classics in Forbidden Planet in Dawson Street many years ago. They have lost none of their impact in the intervening years.
Along with the obvious Come To Daddy and Windowlicker e.p.'s I also mostly listen to Caustic Window and the Analogue Bubblebath series.
On a related note, can any of ye tell me, am I missing much by only buying Aphex Twin on compact disc. I currently have in excess of thirty titles on c.d. but often wonder if there are any really special releases I am missing out on by avoiding vinyl.

Crazy Christ

Virgin or Zavvi or whatever its called in Cork, they had SAW 85-92 there a few summers ago 7.99 it was.. sweet! SAW II is amazing, above words

pearsquasher

I'm a massive fan of Aphex Twins dj sets.... probably more so than his studio work. He mixes so roughly and drops so many styles in but with the same singular driving momentum. His few live sets are amazing too............. he should defo go down the "autchre" or "squarepusher" route more.....pure live sets from studio material with tons of improv.

radiospan

Yeah I went to buy SAW 85-92 on CD a few months ago (had the MP3s for ages), but I was surprised how it's not available any more.

It was never released on Warp.

I bought the 2006 remastered vinyl instead: http://www.discogs.com/release/795898

cornbb

plazzTT wrote: »

Yeah I went to buy SAW 85-92 on CD a few months ago (had the MP3s for ages), but I was surprised how it's not available any more.

It was never released on Warp.

I bought the 2006 remastered vinyl instead: http://www.discogs.com/release/795898

I've never heard the album on vinyl but I'd love to, seems like it would be the ideal way to listen to it.

Scubadevils

cool, must get that too on vinyl

nlgbbbblth

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 was released on R&S records.

as my name suggests, Aphex Twin has been a massive influence on my musical taste since 1992.

I rate the LPs

1 Polygon Window - Surfing On Sine Waves
2 Selected Ambient Works 85-92
3 I Care Because You Do
4 Selected Ambient Works II
5 Richard D. James Album
6 Drukqs

Classics and the Caustic Window triple LP are also recommended.

of the singles favourites are

Analogue Bubblebath 3.1
Digeridoo
Donkey Rhubarb EP [amazing]
On
Girl / Boy EP
Ventolin
Analord - all volumes but 3, 4 and 10 especially

also check out Wap 100 which has Hardy, Freeman and Willis Acid - truly great tune

His new guise, The Tuss, isn't bad. An album and an EP released last year.

John

I still haven't heard The Tuss (and I didn't know there was an EP as well as an album). Worth checking out?

nlgbbbblth

John wrote: »

I still haven't heard The Tuss (and I didn't know there was an EP as well as an album). Worth checking out?

it's called Confederation Trough. Three tracks. Picked it up cheap on CD, according to discogs the 12" has a different track 3 to the one on the CD so the completist in me will probably pick that up at some stage. Can anyone verify?

it's fairly good but none of the tracks compare to the opener on Rushup Edge, Synthacon 9.

Owenw

Just spotted this on Play.com.
R&S Records have remastered Aphex Twin's - Selected Ambient Works 85-92.
Due for release on 8th April. :cool:

Scubadevils

Owenw wrote: »

Just spotted this on Play.com.
R&S Records have remastered Aphex Twin's - Selected Ambient Works 85-92.
Due for release on 8th April. :cool:

Excellent, I have a copy of this since I think 1994 and it is really showing it's age plus fussy about what CD player it is played in! Will definitely buy it again now when its out. Maybe frame my original copy Come to think of it not a bad idea, I have seen frames for CD's and what better one to preserve and hang on the wall than that!

http://www.framemyrecord.com/default.asp?pg=cdframes.asp

Think I saw them in Urban Outfitters or somewhere like that.

Kold

So like... Ventolin.. I can't stop listening to it but I can't decide whether I actually like it. That high pitch whine through the whole song is by far one of the most obnoxious noises I've ever heard but I think part of me thinks it's cool... The fact that it makes me feel so damn uncomfortable.

Scubadevils

I don't think I like Ventolin really. I had it on in the car recently and had to skip it... it may have been that it was about 6am and maybe not the right time of day for that type of assault on the ears.

conorpacman

I really had a huge phase of AFX. I bought anything with his name or face on it. I also got every single Analord on vinyl. But the last two years a saw a massive drop in my interest. I think it was probably he wasn't prolific enough. Drukqs is probably my favorite album. But it doesn't have the long term liking effect. I can't stand most of the tracks on it anymore. I think the only album that really stuck was the double Selected Ambient Works album. That is an amazing album.

Finally got his hair cut too.

about time.

(looks like Ewan Mcgregor

Scubadevils

^ take a break, you will get back to him

Speaking of SAW, check out this rare tune by Aphex...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D7rpo1xIy8

cornbb

Thats a sweet find! The beat "borrowed" from SAW fits in nicely.

RDJ with short hair just looks wrong.

Seeing as this seems to be an established RDJ/Warp/IDM thread, I'll mention that I got my hands on that "Warp - Labels Unlimited" book that was mentioned here a while back (by Felix I think?)

I've only had a flick through it so far but it looks great, lots of rare material, info on artists that's probably unavailable on the internet etc. I'll talk about it some more when I've read it and feel more coherent :pac:

Scubadevils

It's a great track and does work very well. That whole compilation is excellent too -

http://www.discogs.com/release/51236

Yeah I mentioned before about the Warp book. An excellent book, haven't looked at it myself for a while now, must get back to it again.

Scubadevils

Picked up this early interview with Aphex Twin on another site, an interesting read -

pt1 http://www.mediafire.com/?7nzmmtzdjnz

pt2 http://www.mediafire.com/?eyb1n8mynny

cornbb

Felixdhc wrote: »

Picked up this early interview with Aphex Twin on another site, an interesting read -

pt1 http://www.mediafire.com/?7nzmmtzdjnz

pt2 http://www.mediafire.com/?eyb1n8mynny

Aw bless, he looks so young there

Its an interesting read alright - he's more revealing about his methodology in that inteview then he has been in most since, still pretty esoteric stuff though. I didn't know SAW 85-92 was mastered on cassette tape, thats mad! It does have a unique sound which is nice and warm though, so no harm I suppose. Its funny, the music he was making back then was made using methodologies and equipment which are antiquated nowadays but that just makes it sound even more amazing today.

Scubadevils

Yeah he looks like a teenager in that picture, not far off it though I suppose!

I did read somewhere before alright that SAW was mastered on cassette. I really love the sound he created with that equipment and it is actually a sound I crave but rarely find these days. One recent gem of a discovery though was the following which I HIGHLY recommend

http://www.discogs.com/release/1007286

http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=37153

After four sellout twelves and a barrage of critical acclaim - Deepchord's full length Echospace excursion "The Coldest Season" is at long last available on CD and Download - featuring material not featured on the EP's and different versions of familiar tracks - all expertly blended and mastered by Rod Modell for your enjoyment. Produced using nothing but vintage analog equipment : Roland Space Echo, Echoplex, Korg tape delay, vintage signal processors, noise generators, Sequential Circuits 8 bit samplers & numerous analog synthesizers - this project goes back to the heady days of Berlin-based proto dub/techno variations, recorded and produced in Detroit and Chicago. Three of the worlds most important Techno cities colliding to form a whole that perfectly bridges the gap between The Motor City's emotive arrangements, The Windy city's percussive robustness, and Berlin's life-altering Basic Channel continuum. Listened to in one sitting, "The Coldest Season" chooses a different arrangement and track selection to slowly build up momentum and space - taking in the muted steppers reduction of "Abraxas" and the icy soundscaping of "Ocean Of Emptiness" before reaching a crescendo of sorts with the radiant techno of "Elysian" and the majestic dub killer "Empyrean" - the most revered track on board bringing this 80 minute album to a perfect close. Where Echospace go from here only time will tell - but for the moment "The Coldest Season" is a perfect distillation of dub techno and BASS reductions for 2007 and beyond. ESSENTIAL PURCHASE!

I bought this a couple of weeks ago and listened from start to finish. When it ended, I was actually sad it was over... a breath taking album.

Scubadevils

OT, but I kept meaning to sign up for lastfm and did a couple of weeks ago but only got round to checking it out now. Seems a really cool site, I even added the signature here! Assuming it worked for me that is.

Kold

Last FM does indeed rawk.

Martyr

i think Drukqs is his best stuff to date.
Selected Ambient Works is worth a listen too though.

Ryo Hazuki

You can all imagine my disgust when my copy of SAW went missing in work..
Have the empty cd case here, but alas no disc..

Get 26 mixes for cash. Excellent album.

Spunge

anyone know where to find a list of places he's playing in europe this year?
cant seem to find anything.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

He's playing Ireland in the festival that shall not be named.

cornbb

Spunge wrote: »

anyone know where to find a list of places he's playing in europe this year?
cant seem to find anything.

I've been told that actual lists of the Twin's upcoming gigs are non-existent. I'd be most happy if someone corrected me on though... best bet is probably to keep an eye on relevant blogs, music news websites, etc

Scubadevils

There is a copy of SAW in Freebird in Templebar for 7 euro :eek: Nearly bought it myself just to have another copy but that would be greedy :pac:

Kold

Felixdhc wrote: »

There is a copy of SAW in Freebird in Templebar for 7 euro :eek: Nearly bought it myself just to have another copy but that would be greedy :pac:

Gonna get my mate in Dub to snap that up, cheers

mwnger

I'm a massive Aphex Twin fan, but I must say I thought drukqs was the biggest pile of self-indulgent **** I've ever heard. I genuinely believe he was taking the piss with that album.

Anyway, yeah Ventolin is a bit harsh on the tympanic membrane alright, but some of the remixes, on Disc 1 and 2, are fantastic. Same goes for On

Donkey Rhubarb is well worth picking up as well. Love that video!

cornbb

mwnger wrote: »

I'm a massive Aphex Twin fan, but I must say I thought drukqs was the biggest pile of self-indulgent **** I've ever heard. I genuinely believe he was taking the piss with that album.

drukqs is probably my favourite Aphex album but lets not fall out over it It wasn't a typical Aphex album but then again there's no such thing. I don't think self-indulgence necessarily makes a piece of music bad either, if he was being self-indulgent. There are a lot of things I love about drukqs - the prepared piano, the musique concrete, the incredibly intricate programming, the pretty piano pieces. Its the sort of album where reading about its production and the influences behind it makes you appreciate it even more. Each to their own though.

Scubadevils

I have been totally put off buying drukgs as a result of various opinions I have heard. Must get it and see for myself. Although I have overdone Aphex of late, had Chosen Lords and Analogue Bubblebath 3 on too much in the car lately

Anima

Drukqs is ok. Theres a lot of stuff on there that just isn't worth listening too. There are a few gems on there though. Almost all the piano stuff is great and there are some nice breakcore tracks as well. The problem is sometimes each mellow piano track will be followed by a really frantic loud track. Totally offsets the mood I find.

Morf

IS the new album of ambient songs any good? What could you compare the ambient stuff to?