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How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

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Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#31

Post by elevaet »

Severian wrote: post #9

This is one of my top 10 albums. "Tha" is one of my favorites. Also of note, Selected Ambient Works Volume II. I used to mix ambient tapes from a variety of sources in the mid-90s, and this was always features somewhere. One good mix was Autechre's _VLetrmx21_ over Aphex's _Blur_. None of it is in sync, some of it's dissonant, but it works. I miss 90s Ambient and IDM. Em:t label of was a top one. There was a sound to…

SAW2 is one of my desert island albums for sure.

SAW has some great tunes, but it's basically just a compilation of some of his better early tunes. SAW2 is a properly cohesive album, a milestone ambient album. Peaceful and spooky, just enough sourness and dissonance to keep coming back to since it was brand new in the mid 90s.

(omg _VLetrmx21_ is such a nostalgic tune.. thanks for the reminder)

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#32

Post by overthemoon »

billfruit wrote: post #13

Anyone else find the music of Apex Twin not appealing? Like in comparison with for example, Daft Punk, what makes some people consider Aphex Twin as interesting music?

I can't speak for anyone else, but the sheer span of sounds he wrung out of his gear is impressive, and to make them hang together in interesting ways is why I like it so much. It has real movement and dynamics, he's a songwriting wizard. One of my favorite tracks, "Vordhosbn" gets me so fucking amped, the beat is so bizarre and nervous and energetic. It's textured in a way some other electronic music isn't, it has character. Like "Yellow Calx" off Richard D. James Album, it has this percussive sound like a ball bearing ricocheting off the side of a warehouse near the beginning (which is a sound he uses in other songs I think) that I can't explain, but I love that sound so much. It doesn't happen again in the rest of the track, it's this singular spike of sound in an otherwise mellow and contemplative song, and it's really effective imo.

Sorry if this is annoying, I just really like Aphex Twin.

Daft Punk is doing something very different. It would be weird to drop "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" at a wedding. This is not a knock on Daft Punk--I think they're great. But occupy a different space altogether and happen to also make electronic music.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#33

Post by [deleted] »

billfruit wrote: post #28
pavlov wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Daft Punk is fine, it's fun pop music extremely well executed, but it doesn't transport me anywhere. Listening to Aphex Twin always felt like I'm taking a journey somewhere. It requires some focus, but doesn't need a massive cultural decoder ring like many kinds of contemporary Western art music. (I mean the post-WWII music by classically trained composers.)

Philip Glass is one of the post WW2 composers whose music does not need a cultural decoder ring. His music is distinctively Glass-ian, I think very few musicians have carved out such a distinctive musical identity.

[deleted]

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#34

Post by laumars »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #22
karmicthreat wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Drukqs was great because it was something different. He has been kind of hit or miss since then.

I really liked Syro personally, as a long time fan.

Same here.

I find I need to listen to most of his albums a couple of times before I fall for them whereas Syro clicked first time.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#35

Post by overthemoon »

laumars wrote: post #27
billfruit wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People's individual preference is a thing, but it does not explain anything. But one can seek to understand the aesthetics of something none the less.

You cannot explain it though. I could say I'm drawn to Aphex Twin because it all sounds really diverse but someone else would say they disagree and prefer rock music because Aphex Twin sounds really samey. The problem with conversations about personal preference is it's not a rational decision. You either like something or you don't. Someone could try to intellectualize why they like something but ultimately that rea…

Then why talk about it at all? I disagree with this argument. It has observable qualities, and those qualities can be discussed. Preference is one thing, but there's more to discussions about art than what one prefers.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#36

Post by elevaet »

billfruit wrote: post #13

Anyone else find the music of Apex Twin not appealing? Like in comparison with for example, Daft Punk, what makes some people consider Aphex Twin as interesting music?

Aphex Twin: musical genius

Daft Punk: bangers

They're both great, but for totally different reasons.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#37

Post by gravitate »

karmicthreat wrote: post #15
billfruit wrote: post #13

Anyone else find the music of Apex Twin not appealing? Like in comparison with for example, Daft Punk, what makes some people consider Aphex Twin as interesting music?

Drukqs was great because it was something different. He has been kind of hit or miss since then.

Drukqs is a popular album to get stoned to. Although some songs on it are depressing as fuck and give me bad vibes. I love all the drill-and-bass songs though.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#39

Post by pugets »

billfruit wrote: post #13

Anyone else find the music of Apex Twin not appealing? Like in comparison with for example, Daft Punk, what makes some people consider Aphex Twin as interesting music?

I felt the same way for years. I don’t recall which track changed my mind, but I started liking him when I had a realization that his music has a childlike element to it that I haven’t heard in any other artist. He often rebels against traditional electronic song structures, preferring instead to create sprawling expanses that finish in a very different place from where they start.

I started loving his music after I noticed how much care goes into each track, and the wide array of technique he employs.

Xtal, Ziggomatic 17, Fenix Funk 5, Mookid, 4, T69 Collapse… these tracks sonically have little in common with each other, except that they all sound vaguely “Aphexy” as a result of his trademark playfulness and high quality of polish.

Re: How Aphex Twin Made Selected Ambient Works 85-92

#40

Post by glitcher »

This was one of my favorites in the early 90's, along with The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld and their single Blue Room, Tango N'Vectif by µ-ziq, early Plastikman releases on Plus 8 Records, and Loveless by My Bloody Valentine :)

Feeling pretty old, thought I just saw this same article just a couple years ago. Turns out several outlets did a similar article for the 25th anniversary of Selected Ambient Works, so that was actually 5 years ago:

https://www.factmag.com/2017/02/12/paul-white-aphex-twin-sel...

https://www.thestudentplaylist.com/aphex-twin-selected-ambie...

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