TIL: Selected Ambient Works 85-92// Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin can feel like the married dreams of an electronics engineer with music. And of course, it makes sense. Richard D James (the guy with a grinning smile) was an electrical engineer diploma. Ever since his childhood, he has been tinkering hard line with synthesizers, computers, anything that could produce music. You could possibly call him the Sid from Toy Story of synthesizers.
He has an illustrious career, and one of the pinnacles of his work is the fact that he is eccentrically original. He is a madman, someone willing to take on a challenge to break it down, and make some eccentric music without being judgy. But of course, what saves him is the fact that even in their most depraved, malnourished wails, there is a catchiness to it.
Selected Ambient Works 1985-92 is an anti thesis to Brian Eno’s ambience that depended heavily on lush airspace and more instrumentals. This one has chopped it down to the trot. The album takes influences from acid house and techno, and somehow mashes it with a futuristic sound that makes it a surreal listen. Many of the tracks are lengthy but throughout them, there is this classic 90s twang to the repetitions that make you want to stay.
Most of the tracks have a groove to dance to, but this is not where Richard stops. Green Calx feels more surreal, with the plethora of effects used. Ageipolis feels cinematic in approach. The album can be played in the background, but it captures your attention in a way you will listen to it in its entirety.