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Classics

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Aphex Twin

 
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Avg: 4.0 (193 ratings)

Two EPs + One Richard James = Classic.

  • We Say...

    Review by Todd Burns

    While there probably should be an Aphex Twin release entitled Classics, this one ain’t it. Instead, this Classics is R&S Records’ way of combining Richard D. James’ Digeridoo and Xylem Tube EP’s onto one shiny disc — with a couple of extra bits thrown in, just to make sure the collectors don’t feel completely gypped. That being said, there’s plenty for the non-, casual and diehard James fan to latch onto here.

    For the newcomer, “Digeridoo” is the place to start. As its title implies, the Aussie drone pipe is the featured instrument, with James throwing a frighteningly fast beat underneath and whirling synths around it. Connecting the dots between the hypnotic possibilities of both, this tribal techno masterpiece is a timeless reminder that sampling is always much better when you abuse the source material in some way, rather than treating it with reverential kid’s gloves.

    It’s easy to forget how unrelentingly abrasive and po-faced much of James’ early work actually was, what with the excessive lauding of his Selected Ambient Works and comically brutal later albums. Those aforementioned casual fans should appreciate the look back at tracks like “Phlange Phace” and “Phloam,” though. Put those two acid-happy slogs next to any of his Analord EP’s and you’ll scarcely be able to tell the difference. (For those looking for the ambient, slide into an “Analogue Bubblebath.” The comically brutal? Try “Tamphex (Headphuq Mix),” which loops a Tampex commercial throughout its frenetic six-and-a-half-minutes.)

    And, yes, the diehards. R&S offers up a live version of “Digeridoo” for your pleasure, which, oddly enough, may just be better than the original. But, then again, what else would you expect from a classic?

  • They Say...

    Review by Glenn Swan, All Music Guide

    Arguably Richard James' first full-length CD, comprised of various EP's from the early '90s when he was experimenting on his homemade electronic gear and cranking out material that surpassed the work his peers were putting out. Because of the nature of this re-release to CD, the tracks don't always flow from one to the next, but if you want a dense collection of his groundbreaking earlier work, this release will satisfy both the uninitiated and fans alike. Few others knew how to bend the rules of electronic music quite the way James does, and this skill bleeds into present day because he sets the standard for what is always on the horizon. He can turn an atonal collection of sounds into something that transcends the dancefloor, and therefore many of the pieces here require the listener's full attention. His imitable and straightforward track "Digeridoo" finally gets to CD not once but twice, both as the original recording and later as a live version recorded in Cornwall in 1990. Other standouts include "Isopropanol" and "Analogue Bubblebath 1," which are also available on the widely available EP Analogue Bubblebath 1 by AFX (one of his many surnames). "Isopropanol" is ominous and relentless, but also hints at his playful side. Another standout is "Polynomial-C," which sounds like a dance-friendly version of the old COSMOS theme with the same steady rhythm of "Digeridoo." Also here are two early remixes of "We Have Arrived" (credited to "The Mover"), which hint at some of the type of blistering rearranging work he would later do for Nine Inch Nails. Collectors will revel in this disc, and others will simply wonder what just happened to them. Either way, it's worth adding to the shelf.

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