― matthew m., Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― ethan, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
We used to get his records at my old radio station every eight months or so, and somebody would always note "He's making real progress on this one!"
― Douglas, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― electric sound of jim, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― chaki, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Curt, Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Brock K., Monday, 11 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― adam, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dan Irons, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Of course with IDM it's a bit distorted because when Aphex Twin started he was competing with maybe ten others, and now he's competing with hundreds, thousands of bedroom tinkerers, so the possibility of recognisable innovation shrinks dramatically.
In comparison people aren't likely to criticise Bob Dylan for not pushing boundaries (although I get the impression that Love & Theft evidences *personal* artistic progression) because the critical model that surrounds evaluation of Dylan - and traditional songwriting generally - usually adheres to a fall-from- paradise model rather than a race-to-the-finish-line model.
― Tim, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― nathalie, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Nathalie, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Melissa W, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Ronan, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
- and hey, maybe Drukqs makes more sense if you try and put it into a Dylan template! It's Aphex's New Morning or Self-Portrait - sprawling but also cosy, perverse and domestic at the same time (all those gentle interludes, the phone call from his parents, the general resting-on-laurels-having-fun ambience that pisses progressive Aphex fans off...). I like it, anyway.
― Tom, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
As for Drukqs, what I like about it is the sequencing of the record. It's the one album of 2001 (and I use that term instead of my customary 'LP' deliberately) that only makes sense if you play it all the way through in the prescribed order. Not that I've had the inclination to do that very often! We probably won't know unless and until RDJ deigns to release any of his more recent noodlings if this is just a self-indulgent nod to the influence of 'classical' composers (Delius, Stockhausen, etc.) and drum and bass, or if it's the direction he really wants to go in now. Personally, while I'll always be hoping he can repeat the Windowlicker trick, I'd be equally happy with more stuff along the lines of Gwarek2.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
oh well. that always happens to me. AND it bloody fades out, so is pretty hard to mix with.
― ambrose, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― gareth, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Not this again. ;-) Both Dan and I think it is very wonderful, thank you. Yay us!
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― o. nate, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Andy, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― A Nairn, Tuesday, 12 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
and, no, they do not nessecitate the same thing.
― Wyndham Earl, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 8 February 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago) link
and yeah, i like drukqs too
was actually my favourite until i was told i should be liking the 'ambient' stuff more.
― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 8 February 2007 17:30 (seventeen years ago) link
― KeefW (kmw), Thursday, 8 February 2007 17:49 (seventeen years ago) link
― jimn (jimnaseum), Thursday, 8 February 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link
― jimn (jimnaseum), Thursday, 8 February 2007 17:56 (seventeen years ago) link
― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Thursday, 8 February 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago) link
For me, it's got plenty of good things but it's the least interesting of the "proper" studio albums, no doubt.
― It's Tough to Beat Illious (noodle vague), Thursday, 8 February 2007 18:23 (seventeen years ago) link
I pretty much thought it was shite when it came out.
― KeefW (kmw), Thursday, 8 February 2007 18:33 (seventeen years ago) link
― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 8 February 2007 18:42 (seventeen years ago) link
― and what (ooo), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link
― and what (ooo), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:15 (seventeen years ago) link
― held tony (held tony), Thursday, 8 February 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago) link
― held tony (held tony), Thursday, 8 February 2007 20:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― Treblekicker (treblekicker), Thursday, 8 February 2007 21:19 (seventeen years ago) link
I got into Aphex Twin way late and sorta heard everything all at once. Drukqs struck me as the best. It's still my favorite.
― Nigel (Nigel), Thursday, 8 February 2007 22:46 (seventeen years ago) link
― Christopher Costello (CGC), Thursday, 8 February 2007 23:38 (seventeen years ago) link
― plan b: videodrome (fauxhemian), Friday, 9 February 2007 00:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― friday on the porch (lfam), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:10 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:16 (seventeen years ago) link
― Zachary S (Zach S), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:24 (seventeen years ago) link
― and what (ooo), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:25 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:50 (seventeen years ago) link
but... the drill stuff was already getting kinda old when this came out and he was looking to end his relationship with warp. I found the analord stuff actually pretty good and at least had a bit of a new direction.
― hector (hector), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:57 (seventeen years ago) link
― Christopher Costello (CGC), Friday, 9 February 2007 04:25 (seventeen years ago) link
I keep replaying "Avril 14." Is the rest of the album this good?
― Tape Store, Sunday, 21 October 2007 19:11 (sixteen years ago) link
i finally picked this up a couple weeks ago. it's a bit of an inconsistent album, but i think there's some great stuff on it. i've not yet really digested disc 2 (which seems a little spottier) but disc 1 is excellent.
it kind of got trashed, it seems, when it was first released, but i'm quite happy i finally picked it up. it's a lot better than some of those early reviews made it out to be.
― Mark Clemente, Sunday, 21 October 2007 19:44 (sixteen years ago) link
listened to this in the day and now Confield at night. wow, can't believe both of these albums were seen as disappointments. the world was not ready
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 March 2024 02:39 (yesterday) link
Confield is easily one of my most disliked albums ever, terrible sonics and no material to justify it. When I’m dead and in hell I’m sure Pen Expers will be on loop
― Premises, Premises (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 28 March 2024 04:22 (yesterday) link
“lentic catachresis” tho! exquisite.
i like confield a lot myself. kinda like the ae boys playing catch-up with mego digital noise of that era but not quite losing what made them autechre in the process.
is it better than “interesting” tho? still not quite sure! guess i’ll play it yet again…
― (⊙_⊙?) (original bgm), Thursday, 28 March 2024 04:45 (yesterday) link
I think it's great. I was actually surprised how listenable it was, despite what I'd read in the reviews. The only moments that are really overwhelming are Bine and the end of Lentic Catachresis, though I love the latter because it's such an aural rollercoaster. There's even that moment where like, you stop rising, you speed up a bit, you see the cliff over the horizon and know you're going over very soon...it nails that feeling
totally understandable why someone wouldn't like it though, I guess "head in a pinball machine" isn't all that enjoyable for some people
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 March 2024 04:52 (yesterday) link
to me it feels a lot like a real noise record with a pretty major profile, which is cool. but of course… not for everybody. i myself like noise and find it very listenable (sometimes, when it’s done right). but i mean that it’s a “real noise” record as opposed to afx stuff that uses noise more like nine inch nails or a hardcore band like botch might. hits different but both approaches are valid. confield is more like what you get when you already loved roland kayn records also start to love kevin drum’s mego stuff (im guessing). it’s electronic music with very few concessions for people that don’t already find electronic music of this style to be perfectly listenable music. which is cool but… not for everybody.
― (⊙_⊙?) (original bgm), Thursday, 28 March 2024 05:05 (yesterday) link
I just realized this thread isn't about black metal band Drudkh. Maybe I should listen to Aphex Twin and post in the "listen to an album... and tell us about it" thread
― Nabozo, Thursday, 28 March 2024 08:09 (yesterday) link
There are so many odd choices on Confield that if they'd not made them I'd probably enjoy it a lot more. Some sounds are so overwhelmingly loud in the mix, if they'd been toned down just a tiny bit it would have made a big difference to my enjoyment
― your mom goes to limgrave (dog latin), Thursday, 28 March 2024 09:12 (yesterday) link
<3 confield, the most synaesthetic album ever, incredible sounds, no aural fatigue like i get with exai.
but this is an aphex thread. i've been working my way through the analords (thanks fgti), slowly because i'm suddenly in loads of all day meetings for the first time in my career. i'm digging the faster acid breakbeat workouts, most of the rest of it i could take or leave - i was never that crazy about saw 85-92 though.
― gene besserit (ledge), Thursday, 28 March 2024 10:15 (yesterday) link
Maybe I should listen to Aphex Twin and post in the "listen to an album... and tell us about it" thread
i recommend the Richard D James album, mostly cuz it's the shortest and arguably the weirdest.
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 March 2024 13:12 (yesterday) link
and it has his best track on
― gene besserit (ledge), Thursday, 28 March 2024 13:16 (yesterday) link
For a long time RDJ was his agreed on high point album, now it feels underrated.
― default damager (lukas), Thursday, 28 March 2024 16:24 (yesterday) link
I at least had never heard that kind of crazy shit sounding so warm and organic and cozy, it's like a drill n bass wool sweater.
― default damager (lukas), Thursday, 28 March 2024 16:26 (yesterday) link
I have never thought about the connection between the word "sweater" and "sweat" before. (And that's why I think Finnegans Wake is bullshit)
― default damager (lukas), Thursday, 28 March 2024 16:28 (yesterday) link
Today's Aphex spot for me was that his mum is saying "Blackcurrant drink" on "Taking Control" and his wife (although not at the time of Taking Control) is called Ms Rybina.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 19:45 (yesterday) link
I know this sort of dumb shit gets said a lot but hearing the RDJ Album for the first time was a lifechanging experience, like it completely changed how I thought about music for some time, I was almost unable to sleep that night because it kinda freaked me out. but I was 18 at the time (and it was like a decade old by that point, lol), it doesn't really do that for me now
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 March 2024 19:50 (yesterday) link
Yeah I agree that RDJ is the one to start with for the 'later' (i.e. not the ambient stuff) Aphex vibe. It was a weird experience for me too, but for different reasons—it made me realise that I wasn't actually an Aphex Twin fan, even if I thought I was... I had bought all his (main) stuff when it came out, and I liked it... Well, I liked some of it. When RDJ came out, I thought 'this sounds interesting', but wasn't really in the mood, so I stuck it on this pile of CDs I had, which was essentially a 'must listen more to' pile.
Anyway, this was in 1996, and in 2005 I was going out to meet a friend half way across town, so I wanted to listen to something and realised that this album had been sitting in the 'must listen to more' pile for NINE YEARS (across multiple flat moves), so I stuck it in the walkman and I guess because I was in the mood it blew my mind, sounding like the most modern thing, but also with these weird folk influences (not so much folk music). It's also so easily digestible, because it's quite short—you don't feel overwhelmed like clearly a lot of people (possibly everyone) did with Drukqs. It was at that point I actually think I became an actual Aphex fan, and this ultimately led me back to the likes of Drukqs and others, all of which I had bought, but really hadn't properly processed—it was RDJ that was the route into the rest of them for me.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 20:19 (yesterday) link
Oh and to frogbs' point, actually I tend to think the same, that it's not going to 'do it for me' now, but weirdly every time I do stick it on, actually it does wind up doing it for me.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 20:20 (yesterday) link
SAW II was the life-changing one for me. purchased cold in early high school days with no real reference for ambient or dance music of any kind yet, really. took a bit of work to adjust but it opened up some strange and wonderful new worlds. still think it's pretty special today.
― (⊙_⊙?) (original bgm), Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:30 (yesterday) link
The RDJ album is probably the record of his that grabbed me the most (and got played the most). It’s only been in the streaming era that I heard SAW I and II and started to get to know a lot of the later stuff.
― Marten Broadcloak, mild-mannered GOP congressman (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:33 (yesterday) link
And now I’m playing it again 😉
― Marten Broadcloak, mild-mannered GOP congressman (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:36 (yesterday) link
Yeah I put it on earlier and it stayed on all the way through... I should say I'm talking about the UK version of it—the US version I believe has the Girl/Boy EP tacked on the end of it, and whilst it has its funny moments, I don't really rate that anywhere near as much as the UK LP, which is just the first ten tracks.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:38 (yesterday) link
Although tbf, I do like calling a track INKEY$, which was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum BASIC instruction to ask the terminal to wait for a keypress and record it in a variable.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:39 (yesterday) link
As is PEEK 824545201, which is an instruction to look at the memory location 824545201 and return what byte is in it; however, that's far too big of a number for the computers of those days, so I would say he's just making shit up here.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:44 (yesterday) link
cannot imagine RDJ without "Milkman"
― default damager (lukas), Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:50 (yesterday) link
Well yes, it is a standout track in a kind of a way, but not in a way that makes me want to listen to it lots.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:51 (yesterday) link
I like that it exists.
In retrospect some of the reactions to Girl/Boy Song were insane - "it's the ultimate fusion of classical and electronic music" etc - great track though.
IIRC he went to a lot of trouble to record all the instrument samples for it himself. I wonder if they pop up on other tracks.
― default damager (lukas), Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:02 (yesterday) link
Yeah I wonder... Mind you, he seems almost bloody-minded in 'resetting' his creative approach, so possibly not. I just read that Kate Bush's Experiment IV is sampled on "4"—WTF? Is it? I'm not sure outside of Willy Wonka, I've EVER recognised a sample in his stuff.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:06 (yesterday) link
You mean you weren't intimately familiar with the cinematic work containing the "Fantasia, having a party is not my idea of a fantasy..." dialogue? (j/k)
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:12 (yesterday) link
Having been an Aphex admirer since purchasing the Analogue Bubblebath 12", I have to say that my enthusiasm was somewhat lessened by hearing "Milkman". I really can't be doing with that kind of puerile guff. In fact, I found the whole "Girl/Boy" E.P. to be a complete letdown. Happily, I was blown away all over again the following year by "Come to Daddy".
― Vast Halo, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:12 (yesterday) link
Yes, as many have pointed out, the kind of studenty humour can be a bit of a put off. I forgive it, given the profound brilliance of lots of it though. And yeah I agree about Girl/Boy—one of the weakest of that period.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:15 (yesterday) link
As much as I liked the RDJ Album (US edition), Come to Daddy was almost surely the one I ended up listening to more.
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:17 (yesterday) link
Actually no, is it a grumbleflick or something? TBH, I don't listen to that album much... Lots of people love it, and I actually listened to it yesterday for the first time in a long time—there are some great moments, but I find it a bit of a stepping stone... The abrasive bits are just too abrasive; he hasn't quite yet worked out compelling percussion; too much in the way of 'classical' pretence, but as I say, lots of people love it, and I do think it contains some great moments; I also suspect it was a necessary step.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:18 (yesterday) link
I do love it, it's my favorite – but it's also the first one of his that I heard/got into (and I think it often works out that way...)
Here's the (sfw) sample source for the dialogue.
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:23 (yesterday) link
Hehe, right.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:33 (yesterday) link
Listening to RDJ Album now; it's so warm and inviting, more than I even remembered. "To Cure..." / "Goon Gumpas" is such a terrific pair.
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:58 (yesterday) link
Yes, it isn't a difficult listen. I listened to it twice tonight given the chat, and am still amazed how great it is.
Here is Goon Gumpas in Cornwall:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Goon_Gumpas_from_Wheal_Maid_DSC_2951.jpg
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:06 (yesterday) link
UK version feels incomplete to me, ending on "Logan Rock Witch"... had to search for the EP to complete the trip I'm used to.
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:14 (yesterday) link
I guess it's what you're used to.
― Keith, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:16 (yesterday) link
I used to consider I Care Because You Do as AFX's zenith, but now feel it's the RDJ/Come To Daddy/Windowlicker records, which all feel "of a piece" to me.
xp from Confield discussion above - 100% OTM with the "we weren't ready for it yet" sentiments lol. It's extremely musical when compared to say Untilted, and so infinitely less weird and self indulgent than 1/3 of NTS or Elseq.
― octobeard, Friday, 29 March 2024 00:18 (one hour ago) link
the first three tracks of ICBYD are definitely a zenith of some kind
― default damager (lukas), Friday, 29 March 2024 00:36 (one hour ago) link
^^word
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Friday, 29 March 2024 00:37 (one hour ago) link
yes yes yes
― brimstead, Friday, 29 March 2024 00:45 (one hour ago) link