Aphex Twin's _Selected Ambient Works Volume II

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er,

...for his work to be compared against

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm in the "listened to it religiously late at night for years" group and also the "disc 1 track 3 is my favorite" group.

this is one that always comes to mind when someone starts a "top x albums of all time" thread here, but i haven't heard it for a very long time. thanks for the reminder ned!

― tricky disco (disco stu), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I think digeridoo was released before saw II

but I generally agree with the statement about his musical output as of late. I long to hear him do beautiful music again. I actually liked some of the satie inspired piano pieces on druqs just for that reason.

I know you are a killer programmer mr. james you no longer have to go on about it at length. Just give me some beauty.

Could drill and bass be the ultimate prog music?

― hector (hector), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

if the Richard D. James Album isn't beautiful, I'll eat my Windowlicker CDs.

SAW II is unique. If Richard had tried to repeat the trick, chances are he'd have fallen on his arse. The joy of stuff like "Girl/Boy Song" is that he jams the beautiful bits against the drill 'n' bass and lets them work on each other.

I assume the peeps that lost interest after SAW II are the ones responsible for buying all those Greatest Chill-Out Album in the World....Ever! CDs that polluted the air a couple of years back.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I think digeridoo was released before saw II

Yep, the R&S release was in 92, and I'm pretty sure there was an earlier version on white label...

― mmmmsalt (Graeme), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"I assume the peeps that lost interest after SAW II are the ones responsible for buying all those Greatest Chill-Out Album in the World....Ever!"

oooh that hurt.

No sorry but I don't have tons of those records and I didnt say that everything after SAW II was shit but there have been quite a few shit things released. I mean that recent mixes for cash release? He has lost respect for his audience.

It just seems that his releases have become kind of half ass. I really dug that remix he did as afx for the 808 state track but most of druqs was lame.

― hector (hector), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I think digeridoo was released before saw II

I know, like noodle vague says, it's unique; you can hear its coming in his pre-SAWII work and see what he did next with I Care 'Cuz U Do and RDJ album.

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

my punctuation is for shit. again:

I think digeridoo was released before saw II
I know, which is what i was drawing attention to; why isn't this pre-sawII the touchstone?

I guess, like noodle vague says, SAWII is unique; you can hear its coming in his pre-SAWII work and see what he did next with I Care 'Cuz U Do and RDJ album.

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Definitely not responsible for endless chillout compilations, and never really listen to anything 'ambient' any more, just think stuff like 'windowlicker' is taking the piss.

― Jamie Fake (the pirate king), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry, low blow.

Richard likes to give the impression in interviews that he doesn't give a shit whether his music is released or not, nor whether the stuff that is released is his best work or not, so I guess his respect for his audience has always been minimal. But hey, that's okay. I also get the feeling that his relationship with Warp has deteriorated over the last few years.

I don't think drukqs is terrible, it's just disappointing in its failure to be brilliant. Windowlicker was fabulous, and if he'd pursued that warped (excuse pun) R'n'B vein then drukqs could only have been better for it.

But if he never releases another decent tune again, his highs, like SAW II, have been stratospheric.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

if there's any justice in the world, disc 1 track 3 should become as well known and regarded as any of the classics of, um, classical music.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Well phillip glass has done cover versions of some of his tunes so at least its known in the classical world.

― hector (hector), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never understood why people have such trouble figuring out which song goes with which picture. It's pretty obvious to figure out (though it's hard to explain without actually being able to use the album as a visual aid.) If you look on the back of the CD jewel case with the little circles divided into sections, each section represents one song (each circle = a "side" for the vinyl version, I assume). For each section/song there is a corresponding picture. You start from the top of each circle and move clockwise to find the track order. There is one extraneous picture, though, for the track that's only included on press release vinyl, "Stone In Focus"

THIS IS MY THEORY AND IT IS RIGHT SO DO NOT QUESTION IT

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I just got this album a few weeks ago, and I can say it doesn't sound aged at all. The only Aphex Twin I had prior to this was SAW I which was nice enough but never really moved me, but I'm in love with SAW II. The day I bought it I put on my headphones, laid on the floor, and listened to the first disc, and I was pretty much blown away. I always hear people say that Loveless is the only music you can touch, but SAW II is the only music I'm aware of that you can use as a blanket.

― stephen morris, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I never quite got why this is supposed to be such a classic - not that I hate it or anything but if we're talking 1994 then Amber is obviously vastly superior, and Patashnik beats it quite squarely too.

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

If your kundalini is opening, it's inadvisable to listen to SAW II however. It seems to razzle the snake and make it start shimmying in a disturbing fashion right through your brain. I would suggest Eno's later ambient work - eg Neroli - for people in this situation.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Both fine albums, Siegbran -- as my AMG reviews note. ;-) But I have to say that SAW II is still *the* album for me from that year in that vein.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

WIRE interview/article from back in the day and about the infamous "lucid dreaming" technique;

So, I'm just listening to SAWII for the first time in years, and boy is my tape copy worn out. I need to buy this on CD tomorrow.

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

WIRE interview/article from back in the day and about the infamous "lucid dreaming" technique;

― Nik (Nik), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

SAW II is gorgeous, terrifying, and mysterious. I automatically lose a glimmer of respect for someone when they dis' this record -- assholish I know, but I can't help it. It's not so much losing respect as it is just wondering if our brains all have the same parts and regions and stuff, because I cannot imagine not being moved by this album. The microtonality? the robot big-band hip-sashaying ambient boogie? yes, it's all there, and there's a lot more there, a whole world of light and shade, plush organic squish and hard gleaming inhuman shine, a record that plays the listener, scritching at the cerebral cortex, knotting neural pathways, whispering to our deepest fears -- aural, tactile fears we can never quite fully apprehend.

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

And yes this is one of those albums that casts such a spell on me, all I can do is fling strings of words and vague impressions at it to try and make sense of it, make sense of why it means so much to me. Ultimately a failure, of course. I think I'll go put it on now.

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 00:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm ready to start fawning over Oval - 94 Diskont whenever you're ready.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

that's how i feel about autechre's "amber" which is another album that i've spent an unhealthy amount of time with.

i think to myself, now this is a declaration of intent if i've ever heard one. simply massive...

i think my favorite thing about "sawII" and "amber" is the way they reference nature.

― tricky disco (disco stu), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Just remember Clarke B - if your kundalini rises, walk straight up to that CD player and press stop. The kundalini goes nutso to Aphex Twin's ambient material. Steady her a little with something down-to-eath - AC/DC or Motorhead should do the trick.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

See the problem is that Aphex ambience opens up the head chakra to the eternal snake, which then shimmies down and starts busting at the heart chakra like an L.A. cop. Then, cos it can't seem to get in, it snakes right back up to the head chakra and goes "Waaaah!", scaring the pants off you. Then it goes back down again and has another go. Every time it fails, which it always does, it goes back to you head and spits the cosmic dummy like a clown from hell.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The last track on the first disc is one of the most unsettling slivers of sound I've ever heard. Still remember a visit to the beach down in Florida years ago, falling asleep next to the patio screen door at a friend's condo, sound of the waves heard fainly through the glass. Started off blissfully enough, first three tracks lulling us, then dropping off to sleep in the middle set ... but that last track came on and its abstract urban architecture superimposed itself on the natural landscape, mixing with my dreams and sending a streak of terror through me. As I was rising out of sleep the sampled voices went with me, conjuring up a crowd hallucination that I -knew- was gathering on the sand below, anticipating an oncoming tidal wave. I woke my friend up, frantically grabbing at the door handle just to step outside. It's Richard D.'s sinister little Hadyn moment a la the 'Suprise Symphony.'

― Dare, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

or 'Surprise,' take yer pick.

― Dare, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Drukqs is a fucking masterpiece! More so than Windowlicker, I'll venture.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

It still annoys me that the cd doesn't have "stone in focus", cos it's probably my favourite aphex track ever. i urge people who haven't heard it cos they only have the cd to download it now.

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, listened to it at night for years, but uncomfortably so in the sense that I wanted to hear it in headphones, and yet my walkman kept giving off a little grinding noise as it played the tape, so I could never quite listen to it in the total silence I craved. Someone stole my CD copy in '97 and I bought it used again maybe a year ago and was really disappointed. Just didn't seem to have the same affect anymore. Certainly it was the highlight of his career. Still is. The RDJ album was a major disappointment and I've never looked back.

― bimble, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Hello, are there any beats on this cd?

― scg, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course there are!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks toby! i just followed yr advice and "stone" is gorjuss.

― m., Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

been meaning to download "stone in focus" for months, toby.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah "Stone" is been one of my favorite Aphex tracks too.

And people who say that SAWII is "beatless" are clearly mentally unstable and should be lock'd up forthwith.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I just saw "Devil's Playground" last night (2002 documentary about American Amish teens cutting loose) and was kind of taken aback at the beginning when I recognized the backing track as the first song on SAW II Disc 1. There are a few other songs from the album throughout the film, along with some American Analog Set, Mum and some stuff I didn't recognize. I re-watched the film with the audio commentary and apparently the producer and director thought that there was no way they'd get the rights to use the Aphex Twin music, but in the end it wasn't that big of a deal. In any event, I thought it worked really well in the context of the film, which was basically these Amish kids who get to explore the outside world (lots of drinking, MTV, drugs, sex, etc.) when they turn sixteen.

― rainman (rainman), Saturday, 10 April 2004 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard this either. : /

: (

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 10 April 2004 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

you have, its been in enough commercials and TV progs over the years.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 10 April 2004 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

someone should get cozen this for one of his birthdays.

― m., Saturday, 10 April 2004 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

next one!

― cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 11 April 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Which is when? Tomorrow?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 11 April 2004 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Cheers for this thread. I've always thought this LP was probably great, but never had enough encouragement. I remember sitting around at my friend's flat listening to it when it came out. We both thought it was really dull. Back then, we went through a period where we were fed up of all the Warp/AI/Ambient stuff and decided that all we wanted to do was rock, which we did for at least the next six months (give or take the Underworld album).

Anyway, ten years on I think this is absolutely brilliant and have spent all of the last two weeks listening to it.

Nice one!

― Keith Watson (kmw), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 20:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Glad to be able to inspire.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

this album does the same thing to me that coil's Time Machine's CD does. completely absorbing and unsettling. it makes me feel things i never feel otherwise, in an eerie. needless to say, i only listen to them occasionally.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

FD OTM and I'll add Nurse With Wound's Soliliquies for Lilith 3cd box.
Three hours of BaZuZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

― sexyDancer, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Who has albums and eps from the Rpehlex Analog Bubblebath series then? I have a whole CD, completely devoid of packaging, that's in the same vein as Surfing on Sine Waves. Just another random trawl through his '89-'92 archives, perhaps.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

that sounds like Analogue Bubblebath 3? mine's got a sticker with a few production details but other than that it's an unmarked cd in a clear case.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Crikey. #98237443 in today's unbroken stream of coincidences.

I listened to disc 1 of SAW II [Sire] this morning, after about a year's gap. Love it to bits. It hasn't dated at all.

The quality gap between this and the horrible Drukqs is enormous*, although Drukqs does have the odd passable track.

Analogue Bubblebath? I've got 3 and 4. They both ooze creativity, but are a bit difficult to listen to from start to finish.

* matron

― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Keith, you bring up an interesting point. I can't explain why at the time I was so enthralled with all of those electronic "techno" things that were going on, whereas, now, (with the exception of the last Layo & Bushwacka album, which was superb) I take no notice of electronica at all. Lost it's novelty I guess.

Let me see what kind of analogue bubblebath CD's I have...(pulls out very dusty plastic cases...) Yes I have the third one with no sleeve as previously described, and a 4 song E.P. on U.S. label TVT Records just called "AFX: Analogue Bubblebath". It's possible I had more on vinyl, but my Aphex vinyl is still sitting in my parents' house many miles away, and I can't remember exactly what I had of him, now.
I do remember these two 12" EP records entitled "Hangable Auto Bulb" -
anyone else remember these? They were pretty limited as I recall but I thought they were really spectacular at the time. It was the first time he'd started that really quirky kind of fast drumming stuff he tried to develop further on the RDJ album and in my opinion, failed.

― bimble (bimble), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, the "Hangable Auto Bulb" EPs were the first of his Drill and Bass releases, but I like the way he marries it to the plinky plonky strings on RDJ.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

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Aphex Twin's _Selected Ambient Works Volume II_ is ten years old