I made my first Aphex Twin purchase not six months ago [Selected Ambient Works
2], one year after I had read a review in in "Axcess" Magazine, giving the album
their lowest grade and labelling it "a mistake." I was jumping into a $23 dollar
risk that day. I had no exposure to Richard James' history and little experience
with dark, beatless ambient.
There was a certain uneasiness when I popped the first CD in my player. The
packaging was odd and cryptic. There were no titles. One of the
review-blurb-sticker things read 'if the monolith from 2010 could speak, this is
what it would say' [or something to that effect]. The first song droned on for a
few minutes. I moved to the next track. Same thing. When the third track came
on, I was instantly moved. It was mooshy, moody, and elegant. My confidence was
restored and I pressed on. It took a _long_ time for me to get into this
recording, but I feel that it is the single most important part of my CD
collection. I rarely listen to it now - as not to "waste" it. I then picked up
the Warp "On" remixes. Some of the music was odd, other familiar [background
music for "The Real World, etc.], but it was all interesting. I moved on to
_Hangable Autobulb._ Again, hard to get into, but now exciting everytime I hear
it. That was in September/October. My Aphex catalog now ranges from the vinyl
recording of AB1, to Classics on wax, to _GAK_, to Polygon Window, to the
Titanic remixes and beyond. James' music is so incredibly interesting to me. I
get nervous whenever I unwrap the next acquired record I get.
Much of the pooh-poohing I see about RDJ is his wackiness+ego. So what if he
compares himself to Mozart? The proof is in the pudding : you either enjoy his
music and go along with his game, or you shun the tunes and dismiss him. One of
the aspects that fascinates me about James is his behavior, his history, and his
age. I recall reading a review of _Donkey Rhubarb_ at Hyperreal where the author
imagined RDJ lounging around the timpani during 'ICCT Hedral' or leading a royal
procession while listening to 'Pancake Lizard.' What do you think about when you
listen to James? It's hard for me to think of anything BUT James. I often have
to remind myself that there is an actual person behind such beautiful madness.
Whether you like this music or not, everyone on this list and everyone familiar
with James must admit that he _is_ an odd, interesting fellow. It's this facet
of James that keeps me going. Unlike the electronic artists I'm familiar with,
he puts a little bit of himself in his music, be it a toothy grin, a photograph,
his mom, or a demonic shout.
But don't get me wrong. I don't want to marry the guy.
.grant.h.horne
.
http://delta.is.tcu.edu/~ghhorne/
.bib.mouse on mars