IDM Mailing Archive

On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, Marc Wangenheim wrote:

quoted 5 lines I bought the so long awaited Mike Paradinas and Richard James collaboration

> I bought the so long awaited Mike Paradinas and Richard James collaboration > today and what can I say ? Maybe it's because I expected this to be one > hell of a good record produced from 2 guys that brought us such > masterpieces as Bluff Limbo and Surfing on sinewaves, but the only word > that I can find for this CD is _disappointing_ !

Heh... when's the last time you were really wow'ed by an Aphex Twin record anyway? :) I would have to say that Surfing On Sinewaves is the answer for me... So much of his other stuff, particularly S.A.W. II, is just a perfect illustration of the artist who spreads himself too thinly. Don't get me wrong, SAWII has its moments (like track #3 disc 1), but it seems to me that he released the bad songs with the good ones. It would have been a better release with just one disc i think. I remember being so enthused about the Aphex Twin shortly after Polygon Window. He began releasing so many things in so short a time. They were accompanied with magazine interviews, even cover shots on Option, letting his audience know who this promising artist was to be. He made half his songs in his garage when he still wore pampers, etc. He didn't sleep, he just recorded...and when he was out of the studio too long...he got "grumpy." Neet. He *even* collects guns and owns a tank. Well, that sure is cool. Can't a musician find anything better to do with his time and money than be a firearm enthusist? Come on! The musician who created the Number 1 rated album on the ambient list...how ironic.

quoted 4 lines [...] Sorry guys but it needs much

> [...] Sorry guys but it needs much > more than making tracks with burps to make this idm'er smile. Let's just > hope Richards 'rework' on the new Caustic Window LP will make it sound like > his early stuff.

Yeah, I Care Because... sounded like a bunch of belches to me. Creative collage, but didn't seem to go anywhere interesting. i don't like encouraging people to chase their tails (though they may already do it), but twin just seems like the type that should have just continued on at what he was good at... (slips into flame-resistant bodysuit) n o a h .. . . . . . .

You can't just keep on doing what you did. May as well pack it in at that point. With few exceptions, an artist's output becomes less and less inspired unless they develop significantly. One thing I admire about RDJ is his willingness to wander in different directions, seemingly guided only by his own whim. If anything, I would sincerely suggest he stretch further and take more time on each track. I was quite disappointed with the HAB records. Sounded like hastily-executed bandwagon-jumping, and that's not a good sign from someone generally regarded as something of a pioneer. --Mark -- "We invented machines in order to reduce our work. Now that we have them, we think we should go on working." -- John Cage On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, Deckard wrote:

quoted 2 lines but twin just seems like the type that should have just continued on at

> but twin just seems like the type that should have just continued on at > what he was good at...