quoted 1 line Just bought the new APhex and FSOL singles. Cost 2 quid...> Just bought the new APhex and FSOL singles. Cost 2 quid...
Same here, but didn't cost two fucking quid. Damn. Singles really are a
bargain in the UK. Paid $9.99 each...
quoted 1 line Not too sure about this new Aphex Boy/Girl business.> Not too sure about this new Aphex Boy/Girl business.
I think it's wicked. A mini review is in order here:
1. Girl/Boy Song (NLS Mix) (4:50)
Starts out with some delicately plucked violins and a wandering oboe.
Next a rolling line of cellos comes in and before you know it, it's off
on a wild ride. Seems rdj is using an uncharacteristic sampled break on
this track as opposed to one generated by the afx machines. Quite nice.
Like Squarepusher having a go at the last track of I Care...
2. Milkman (4:08)
Starts out with some utterly distorted speech like words proccessed from
the Words & Music promo. A bit of silence, then Aphex starts in with his
singing. His voice isn't half bad either, quite precious and delicately
sung, and man does it fucking get stuck in your head. Nobody else seems
to have mentioned this but it seems like the "I would like some milk
from the milkman's wife's tits" lyric is punctuated with the sound of
someone biting into an apple. The underlying beat & music is pure HAB 1.
Pop it's not, but a your not likely to hear anything as catchy on the
charts.
3. INKEY (1:22)
What if Caustic Window did an jungle remix of an Autechre track? Might
sound a bit like this. Straight up fucking hard ass superfreaking IDM
breakbeats over darker than midnite basslines. Seems to be everyones
favorite track so far. Now if only it was a bit longer...
4. Girl/Boy (L18 Snare Rush Mix)(1:55)
Starts out with more words proccessed distorted speech about "watching
the birds" and then launches into a bluesy rastafarian rhythm with some
nice jungle breaks with the 303 getting a a bit of a workout on some
funky basslines. The tamest track on the album really.
5. Beetles Under My Carpet (1:27)
The closest to a lullaby Aphex is likely to come. RDJ's singing voice
has another workout on this track, like a kid shyly singing at a school
recital. Not exactly the sort of thing you'd want your kids to hear
before they go to sleep however. The music is spritely but dark, with
tinkling synth melodies. Unlike anything he's done before.
6. Girl/Boy Song (Redruth Mix) (1:40)
More 303 basslines used as a counterpoint to some marching jungle breaks
with delicate melodies hiding just underneath some tinkling bells.
Finishes off with more distorted speech this time about "throwing up
vegtables with cheese."
If Hangable Auto Bulb was a reaction to the first two Plug EP's, this is
without a doubt a reaction to the things Squarepusher has been doing
recently. The beats have become more complicated since the HAB ep's and
things are definetly moving along much faster since Tom Jenkinson has
landed upon the scene. I hope this isn't the last we'll hear of RDJ's
singing voice, which despite the protests from the list is very intimate
and melodic and better than most of the geezers about. With only two
songs longer than 2 minutes however, I wonder if the short length of
these songs is something that's here to stay. At any rate, what they
lack in length they make up for in variety and experimentation. IDM
indeed.
Peace out,
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(/ RESH
Live & Direct from the G-Spot,
Orange County, California, USA