quoted 34 lines From: Mark Stevens <mark@sonance.demon.co.uk>> From: Mark Stevens <mark@sonance.demon.co.uk>
> Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 21:14:43 +0000
> Subject: (idm) Aphex Twin: a bit crap lately?
> To: idm@hyperreal.com
>
> On 15 Dec 96 at 12:59, Hess Masten Hodge wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 15 Dec 1996, WeeZ wrote:
>
> > > Today I heard Aphex Twin's "Milkman" (From the new RDJ CD) and I'm
> > > veru sorry to say this but it sucked...
>
> I agree with you there.
>
> I can appreciate its novelty value, but I'm afraid the track's just
> indicative of the Twin's declining standards these days. Play his
> full-length albums back-to-back. Can you honestly say that the likes
> of 'I Care' and 'RDJ' are better albums than 'SAW 85-92' and 'Surfing
> on Sine Waves'? I certainly couldn't. As much as 'I Care' and 'RDJ'
> have some excellent tracks, the chaff to wheat ratio is just too high
> for my liking.
>
> As far as I'm concerned, the last decent Aphex Twin track was 'On'.
> Since then it's been a case of Emperor Aphex's New Clothes -- the
> techno equivalent of Terry Pratchett, churning out endless, dull
> rehashes of former glories, in full knowledge that the devoted fans
> are going to lap it up regardless.
>
> I don't really want to be seen as an AFX-basher. Like I said, I love
> 'SAW 85-92', 'Polygon Window', 'SAW II' plus the 'Quoth' and 'On'
> singles. There's some good tracks on 'Expert Knob Twiddlers', 'RDJ'
> and 'I Care...', but for the most part his recent output has been
> extremely mediocre.
>
The two Hangable Auto Bulb EPs on Warp are excellent. They took a lot of listens (as is often the case) and are
up there with the best IDM. RDJ seems a lot easier to deal with. I find that his later stuff (Ventolin +) a bit deceptive.
You think you've got its measure after a couple of listens but then find it has a whole new level(s).
Andrew