Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today I will be reviewing the various singles and EPs that Mr. Richard D. James has released under the pseudonym, Aphex Twin. I will be doing this for every other band or singer I will be reviewing, if the said artist has enough. For example, The End of Electronics has only one single, and as such, I cannot make an entire review for only one song. With that being said, this might just be the longest post I have ever made, so strap in folks. This is gonna be a long one.
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Analogue Bubblebath (1991)
I know that this wasn't originally released under the Aphex Twin nickname, but I will still be reviewing it.
Starting off the album we have the track, Analogue Bubblebath. It has a very clear 85-92 vibe to it, and is surprisingly calm and soothing to listen to.
Than a sudden change for more intense melodies, Isoprophlex reminded me of the less beat driven songs on ...I Care Because You Do, squelchy sounding synths and glitchy drums. Still pretty cool though!
Entrance To Exit was another ...I Care Because You Do-like song that fitted perfectly within the category of songs I didn't enjoy on aforementioned album.
AFX 2 was once again, a not very enjoyable track from my point of view. The drums felt a bit too loud for my liking.
Overall, for the first ever album from Mr. Richard, it's pretty decent, but definetly not the best.
Favourite tracks: Analogue Bubblebath, Isoprophlex;
Score: 6/10
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Digeridoo (1992)
Now for the first actual Aphex Twin album.
Starting off we have Digeridoo, which actually sounds really intense and danceable. Honestly one of Mr. Richard's best works yet.
Flap Head was another great song, featuring a slower beat compared to Digeridoo and a really cool acid synth lead.
Phloam had a lot more noise and even thought that didn't quite bother me too much, it was the repetitive nature of this song that got to me.
And finally, we have Isoprophlex, which was featured on Analogue Bubblebath. Same track, same amazing tune.
Overall, a massive step-up compared to Analogue Bubblebath in my opinion.
Favourite tracks: Digeridoo, Flap Head, Isoprophlex (if that still counts)
Score: 8/10
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Xylem Tube (1992)
Starting off we have Polynomial-C, which reminded me a lot of those late 90s, early 2000s EDM tracks, you know which ones I'm talking about. Really cool track.
Next we have Tamphex, where Mr. Richard brings back the drum machine and quiet, fuzzy vocal samples. Pretty simple track, but at the same time, surprisingly good.
Phlange Phace was another song that would have fitted on ...I Care Because You Do, and at the same time, I wouldn't have really enjoyed it.
Dodeccaheedron, again, would have fit ...I Care Because You Do, and I wouldn't have really enjoyed it. I'm starting to see a pattern here.
So overall, another pretty decent EP.
Favourite tracks: Polynomial-C, Tamphex;
Score:7/10
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On (1993)
Starting off, we have the title track, On. It has a very 85-92 feel, with it's soothing synth melodies and less heavy beat. Another great track from Mr. Richard.
73-Yips was a, once again, ...I Care Because You Do-like track... Only this time! It was enjoyable. The loud beat and glitchy, chime-like sounds were surprisingly pleasant to the ear.
Xepha was a pretty simple track, with a slower beat, but at the same time, a pretty I.C.B.Y.D. feel.
This is the first EP from Aphex Twin I fully enjoyed.
Favourite tracks: On, 73-Yips, D-Scape, Xepha;
Score: 8/10
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Ventolin (1995)
Before I continue, I must note that I shall be refering to the following tracks on this EP by their mix names, as they are all Ventolin remixes.
Starting off, we have the original Ventolin from ...I Care Because You Do. My opinions have slightly changed on this song, however I still do not enjoy it.
Next we have The Praze-An-Beeble Mix, which has a slower beat and more acid house-like SFX. Still, not my favourite.
Moving one, we have The Marazanvose Mix, which has a bit more of a hip-hop feel to it. This one I really enjoyed. Though the last 40 seconds of the song are just weird SFX.
The Plain-An-Gwarry Mix had once againa more hip-hop feel to it, again making this a good song. Much easier on the ears.
The Coppice Mix reminded me a lot of 85-92, especially the songs that appear after Schottkey.
And finally, we have Crowsmengegus Mix, which started off unpleasant, but gradually became more enjoyable.
So, overall thoughts. The album has 3 good songs and 3 bad songs. Not the best EP, in my opinion.
Favourite tracks: The Marazanvose Mix, The Plain-An-Gwarry Mix, The Coppice Mix;
Score: 6/10
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Donkey Rhubarb (1995)
This album begins with the title track. It has a very cheerful feel to it and even though it may start getting repetitive, it still manages to capture yoyr attention.
Next we have Vaz Deferenz, which has a bit more of an acid house feel, especially with the synths. Great track overall.
Moving on we have Icct Hedral (Philip Glass Orchestration). It was a pretty decent track on ...I Care Because You Do, but for sone reason, it sounded WAY better in an orchestral cover. Really fitted the atmosphere.
And finally, we have Pancake Lizard. It had some really nice violins and a slower beat. It would have felt right at home on The Richard D. James Album.
So overall, the second EP from Aphex Twin that I really enjoyed.
Favourite tracks: Donkey Rhubarb, Vaz Deferenz, Icct Hedral (Philip Glass Orchestration), Pancake Lizard;
Score: 8/10
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Girl/Boy (1996)
The first track, Girl Boy (NLS Mix), started off rather slow, but then quickly changed to breakbeat orineted melody. Pretty cool.
Next we have Milk Man. It has some very interesting chorus lyrics "I would like some milk from the Milkman's wife's t!ts". Apart from that, the track's pretty sweet. I love the synths and the very weird sounding beat.
Inkey$ was just a 1 minute glitch track. Nothing special.
Girl Boy (£18 Snarerush Mix) was 2 minutes long, but was actually a really neat track. A shame it lasted so little.
Beetles was a 1 minute long, synth oriented, almost ambient track which had a pretty nice melody.
Finally, we Girl Boy (Redruth Mix) which was another short, but good track. Also, it ends with some pretty funny, computer sung lyrics about c h e e s e .
Overall, another good EP.
Favourite tracks: Girl Boy (NLS Mix), Milk Man, Girl Boy (£18 Snarerush Mix), Beetles, Girl Boy (Redruth Mix);
Score: 8/10
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Come To Daddy (1997)
Starting off, we have the highly experimental, Come To Daddy (Pappy Mix). It has very catchy beats and saw synths. And then, we have the screaming guy. It's actually not that bad when you get used to Aphex Twin.
Then, we have the calm Flim. It has some slow synths and quiet drums. Very nice track, one of my favourites in all of Mr. Richard's discography.
Next we have another calm song, Come to Daddy (Little Lord Faulteroy Mix). A mix of slow beats, soothing synths and weird vocal samples create a pretty good track.
Bucephalus Bouncing Ball had some weird metalic sounding synths and fast beat. Would have fit very well on The Richard D. James Album. Not my favourite though.
To Cure A Weakling Child (Contour Regard) was a simple, pretty chill track. Another good song on this EP.
Funny Little Man was another really weird track. Very beautiful.
Come To Daddy (Mummy Mix) wasn't anything special honestly. Rather forgetable.
And finally, we have IZ-US. Just a chill song, reminiscent of Flim.
So this EP was just a mix of all kinds of tracks, some good, some bad.
this very pretty album cover.
Favourite tracks: Come To Daddy (Pappy Mix), Flim, Come to Daddy (Little Lord Faulteroy Mix), To Cure A Weakling Child (Contour Regard), Funny Little Man, IZ-US;
Score: 8/10
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Windowlicker (1999)
Ah yes, finally! I can talk about this beast. Starting off we have the title track, Windowlicker. The weird beat and very, very catchy, heavily modified, almost moaning, vocal samples give this song a completely different feel compared any other song out there. And then the guitar like ending riff was just perfect. This song is absolutely amazing.
Next we have Formula or Equation, as it's commonly referred to, as the real name is just... well, a complex formula or something. This song is just your regular glitchy, breakbeat song. Honestly, it wasn't anything special.
And finally, we have Nannou, a song dedicated to his then girlfriend. A jukebox like song, with cute little plinks and dings, mixed in with your classic Aphex Twin style, fast beat.
So overall, a pretty good EP, and even though a third of this record is a less enjoyable, it all held up by the fantastic Windowlicker.
this very interesting album cover.
Favourite tracks: Windowlicker, Nannou;
Score: 9/10
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Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 (2015)
Starting off, we have diskhat ALL prepared1mixed 13, with mainly a simple drum pattern.
snar2 was just a short drum roll.
diskhat1, though not quite as acoustic, had a very classic hip hop feel to it.
piano un1 arpej, as the name implies, was a short piano arpeggio.
DISKPREPT4 was a drum pattern, mixed with some other forms of percussion.
hat 2b 2012b was another beat driven track, with some tribal influences.
disk aud1_12 was just a bunch of noise.
0035 1-Audio was a short drum pattern.
disk prep calrec2 barn dance [slo] was a rather ambiental track. Pretty neat.
DISKPREPT1 was another ambiental track. This time, a bit more instrumental compared to the previous song.
diskhat2 was another drum pattern.
piano un10 it happened was a short piano melody. Very nice.
And finally, hat5c 0001 rec-4 was a looping drum pattern.
Yeah, this album has very little substance to it.
Favourite tracks: diskhat ALL prepared1mixed 13, snar2, diskhat1, piano un1 arpej, DISKPREPT4, hat 2b 2012b, 0035 1-Audio, disk prep calrec2 barn dance [slo], DISKPREPT1, diskhat2, piano un10, hat5c 0001 rec-4;
Score: 6/10
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Cheetah (2016)
First off, we have CHEETAH2 [Ld spectrum] was a rather boring drum based song.
CHEETAHT7b was another boring track.
CHEETA1b ms800 was a short synth melody. So was CHEETA2 ms800.
CIRKLON3 [ Kolkhoznaya mix ] was a long, synth based melody. First actually enjoyable track.
CIRKLON 1 was pretty similiar to CIRKLON3 [ Kolkhoznaya mix ]. Pretty decent.
2X202-ST5 was pretty mediocre honestly.
This is probably Aphex Twin's worst EP and album.
Favourite tracks: CIRKLON3 [ Kolkhoznaya mix ], CIRKLON 1;
Score: 4/10
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Collapse (2018)
T69 collapse was just a super chaotic track and I just loved it.
1st 44 was another good track.
MT1 t29r2 was a pretty forgetable track actually.
abundance10edit[2 R8's, FZ20m & a 909] was another mediocre song.
pthex was just OK.
Favourite tracks: T69 collapse, 1st 44;
Score: 5/10
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Peel Session 2 (2019)
Slo Bird Whistle was just a funny, squeaky song.
Radiator. Vietnam flashback. Scared. Volume II.
p-string was a pretty mediocre track.
Pancake Lizard - Peel Session wasn't as good as it was on Donkey Rhubarb.
Favourite tracks: Slo Bird Session, Radiator - Peel Session;
Score: 4/10
I'm will now proceed to take a nap.
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