... James, aka Aphex Twin, grew up in Cornwall, England. He spent his lazy Sunday afternoons pulling apart electronic devices and recording music. He even spent some time driving around the country side in a decommissioned tank. To add to what somepeople may see as lunacy, he played at one gig ... Read review
Advantages: Mind meltingly moist noise Disadvantages: Mind melts
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Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin, grew up in Cornwall, England. He spent his lazy Sunday afternoons pulling apart electronic devices and recording music. He even spent some time driving around the country side in a decommissioned tank. To add to what somepeople may see as lunacy, he played at one gig scratching a record needle over sandpaper followed by dropping his microphone in a blender.
After being signed to numerous labels, ... ...an orchestral version of an Aphex Twin song.
He excels in Acid, Break, I.D.M (Intelligent Dance Music), Ambiance and Experimental and through his work on Aphex Twin, was one of the most critically acclaimed electronic artists of the 90’s.
What to go for first?
The ‘Come to Daddy EP’ released in 97 is probably one of the better albums to take you into the sounds of Aphex Twin. It includes the astounding ... more
A Little background info; Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin, grew up in Cornwall, England. He spent his lazy Sunday afternoons pulling apart electronic devices and recording music. He even spent some time driving around the country side in a decommissioned tank. To add to what somepeople may see as lunacy, he played at one gig scratching a record needle over sandpaper followed by dropping his microphone in a blender.
After being signed to numerous labels, he began his own, ‘Rehplex’ and through it, produced work under the name of Caustic Window. Although I do feel a need to point out he has many other names under witch he produces music…
AFX, Polygon Window, Blue Calx, Power-Pill, GAK, Q-Chastic, Soit-P.P
His popularity was growing and was soon being approached by artists like Jesus Jones, The Cure and NIN to remix their work.
In an interview, Richard told us the secret to remixing; “I like doing them sometimes, I'll take a song and make it into something that I like. The original comes to me in a form that I hate, then I have to do a serious bit of alteration to it, and sometimes I don't even bother I just give them a track that has nothing to do with that song."
He turned down offers from artists such as Madonna, Bjork & Limp Bizkit purely on “aesthetic grounds”.
Mainstream artists such as Radiohead borrowed parts of his work in their ‘Kid A’ album and even the modern composer Philip Glass did an orchestral version of an Aphex Twin song.
He excels in Acid, Break, I.D.M (Intelligent Dance Music), Ambiance and Experimental and through his work on Aphex Twin, was one of the most critically acclaimed electronic artists of the 90’s.
What to go for first? The ‘Come to Daddy EP’ released in 97 is probably one of the better albums to take you into the sounds of Aphex Twin. It includes the astounding heavy break beat track ‘Come to Daddy’, which in my opinion propelled Richard into a more mainstream audience (especially with the video that accompanied the track). It also includes enough of his other styles to allow you to make up your own mind as to whether or not it is worth purchasing further albums. My only recommendation is that you start with ‘Come to Daddy’.
For a more laid back approach into the music, try ‘Classics’ which includes his infamous acid track “Didgeridoo” (a track made to tire out the audience at raves). This album is a lot less ‘weird’ than say the ‘Come to Daddy’ EP, but it is his old work and not as experimental as his later projects.
A selection of
The Man of a thousand faces It is always very hard to pin down such an artist and pigeon hole him into a certain genre of music. His work is a varied as Ben & Jerry’s Ice-cream and at times just as odd. If you are into experimental electronica then Richard D. James is top of the list of artists to look into, if however, your into more structured work, then by all means have a listen to the ‘Come to Daddy EP’ and work out which style he adopts works for you (There’s enough to choose from!).
Advantages: intoduction to the cafe Disadvantages: will it cut the mustard
for my first review. Luckily some kind Ciaoers put my straight, and I promise the Renault Scenic will get a proper job done on it.
3. What do you now enjoy writing about most on Ciao and why?
I think Travel is my favorite. I did a 4 week, 6600 mile road trip in the USA last July, and have used a smattering of reviews, which also give a flavour of the trip. Hope it's not getting boring because theres more to come.
Second is Music. And my tastes range from AphexTwin to The Who, and a whole lot in between.
Third comes Finance. Mainly as I earn my income from it.
4. Go into your 'My Ciao' page and click on the 'sort by usefulness' button on your reviews. See what comes up on top as your highest rated review. Do you think this is your best review and why?
Phoenix Park Hotel. Being my lastest review. I must be getting better ...
Advantages: It's totally insane hatstand lunacy Disadvantages: its impossible to predict
of practice you can catch smooth throaty vocal loops or even throbbing random 'computer tones' that sound like Aphextwin at his most insane. My machine also has a 'loop advance' button that allows you to advance through a word in micro-loops of sound without having to hammer the switches on and off. While all four loop switches on my unit have much the same effect it would appear that the last switch always produces percussion loops, the first switch gives throaty vocal loops and combinations of switches can do some very wierd stuff.
Pitch Controls - These are three knobs on the sides of the machine. The first two on the right side are a full range pitch control and a fine tuning knob. At its highest setting the pitch control makes the machine sound like a bunch of chipmunks on helium but it's the deepest bottom end settings that are more ...
Advantages: you will learn a fair bit on my musical tastes. Disadvantages: most people wont give a damn >_<
James Keenan from Tool, the emotion and intensity of his voice is amazing, Bjork is also one of my faves, also Jónsi Birgisson, the vocalist/guitarist in Sigur Ros is also spectacular.
~4. Who are your favourite band of all time?
I couldn?t pin-point my favourite band/artist ever, there?s just too many different styles of music I like. Favourite artists include : Aphextwin, Squarepusher, DJ Mzone, DJ Mark EG, DJ the crow, DJ's Cally and Juice, Bjork, Venetian Snares. favourite bands of all time : Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, black Sabbath, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Electric Wizard, Sigur Ros, Dream Theater and finally, Yes.
~5. What is your favourite album?
Again I cant pinpoint a specific album which is my favourite but ill do a list of my favourite albums from the artists featured above:
Aphextwin - i care because you do ...
