since we're all plugging our favourite ae albums, i might as well put in a mention for lp5 as it's their most consistently creative and varied body of work [or 'album' as most people would say !]. it marks the introduction of the digital cut-ups which later dominate ep7 and confield, but here meld perfectly with their earlier distinctive analogue sounds. every track seems to break boundaries and open up a huge new horizon of musical possibilities; in fact i think it's not too much of an overstatement to say that practically each track could spawn a whole new idm sub-genre. it also contains one of the most majestic moments i've heard in any piece of music, halfway through rae .. i won't give anything away, except that the first time i heard it [and this isn't a metaphor - it actually happened], the sun shone through the clouds and a rainbow appeared ! on top of that there's the impossible contortions of fold4,wrap5 which have to be heard to be believed, and the sheer mania of under BOAC, which on balance is probably my all-time favourite ae track. and i still haven't mentioned drane2 .. so although it has plenty of competition, lp5 is without doubt the standout album and the one to go for.
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thank goodness for all of the things you are not !
thank goodness you're not something someone forgot,
and left all alone in some punkerish place
like a rusty tin coathanger hanging in space
dr seuss, 'did i ever tell you how lucky you are ? '