Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Aphex Twin: Selected Classics Off Lots Of Albums





So we've been on this jacked up dancey-pants thing for a few posts... and I thought I would take it down a notch. Take it down A LOT actually.

I haven't posted any Aphex Twin before and I thought now would be a good time. I was looking through my computer at work and saw this Warp Records/London Sinfonetta album I reviewed for WIDR a couple weeks back and I thought I should post some songs from it. Then I thought... well shit... why not post a bunch of Aphex Twin!

Of all the songs I could post I would say that 'Flim' (off of the ubiquitous 'Come To Daddy EP') is by far my favourite. For many years, whether happy or sad, I've had this fantasy that when I die (if there is some afterlife) 'Flim' will come on shortly afterwards, filling the void, and I will know everything will be ok. Morbid, yeah, but it's such a beautiful song that I think it is what 'heaven' sounds like if there is such a thing.

Most of these songs tend to lean in the more 'pretty' or 'ethereal' direction, which is not really an accurate portrail of what Mr. Richard D. James' music is like at all (I say this because I know there are a fair amount of younger kids who read this blog and I don't want to have them pick up 'Hangable Auto Bulb' and freak out and never trust anything I say ever again!)... but these are some of the songs of his songs I like most.

ALSO! Don't forget to actually go out and buy his stuff! I'm not just posting this for you to get free music. I'm trying to get you to either a) rediscover Aphex Twin, b) say "Oh, maybe I should have bought this album!", or c) pick up his work for the first time. There is a LOT of music here and I don't want to feel like an idiot for posting it. Based on Aphex interviews I'm going to assume he wouldn't give a shit but his record company probably would...

Aphex Twin- "Polygon Window (Arranged by Kenneth Hesket)"

Aphex Twin- "Prepared Piano Piece 1"

These first two are from Warp Works & 20th Century. That album also includes John Cage, Squarepusher, Tom Jenkinson, Gyorgy Ligeti, Conlon Nancarrow, Steve Reich, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Edgard Varese. That album I suggest checking out if you are into both IDM and NPR.

Here's my selection of favourites:

Aphex Twin- "Alberto Balsam" off I Care Because You Do...

Aphex Twin- "Flim" off Come To Daddy E.P.

Aphex Twin- "Tha" off Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin- "Nanou2" off Druqks

Aphex Twin- "Windowlicker" off Windowlicker E.P.

PLEASE, if you enjoyed this go pick some Aphex Twin over at Amazon!


1 comment:

glorbis said...

in listening to "alberto balsalm," i fall under reason B. i have a decent amount of richard D james's work, but never i care because you do, for some reason. now i feel the urge to make the purchase. thanks, i guess.

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