IDM Mailing Archive

Date: Mon, 05 Dec 94 13:38:35 From: Duguid Brian <BD1@MM-CROY.mottmac.co.uk> To: ambient@hyperreal.com Subject: Aphex Twin limited edition 7" Richard James of Aphex Twin clearly has a sense of humour regarding his fame and the "collector's value" of some of his harder-to-find material ... One of the many delights at a recent Disobey club night in London was a DJ set by Richard James. Clubgoers received a limited edition (200 copies) double-7" of his set, no doubt enormously collectible ... 'Fraid it wasn't ambient music though; the two singles consist of discs cut from different sandpaper grades, with holes punched in the centre. And yes, this WAS the music he had played ... Brian Duguid BD1@mm-croy.mottmac.co.uk

quoted 6 lines One of the many delights at a recent Disobey club night in London was a

>One of the many delights at a recent Disobey club night in London was a >DJ set by Richard James. Clubgoers received a limited edition (200 >copies) double-7" of his set, no doubt enormously collectible ... 'Fraid >it wasn't ambient music though; the two singles consist of discs cut from >different sandpaper grades, with holes punched in the centre. And yes, >this WAS the music he had played ...

Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry? I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite. I pulled out Digeridoo the other night just to make sure this was the same person, and I couldn't believe the difference. Not just Digeridoo, but AB1, Flaphead, and Isoprophlex are absolute genius as well. Everything produced after "On" has failed to ignite me.

On Tue, 6 Dec 1994, Pete Ashdown wrote:

quoted 2 lines Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of

> Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of > value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry?

Possibly

quoted 1 line I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite.

> I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite.

AB4 as a whole was pretty shite. Tracks were all to long.

quoted 5 lines I pulled out Digeridoo the

> I pulled out Digeridoo the > other night just to make sure this was the same person, and I couldn't > believe the difference. Not just Digeridoo, but AB1, Flaphead, and > Isoprophlex are absolute genius as well. Everything produced after "On" > has failed to ignite me.

Well he hasn't really done much since "On" apart from just about the single most significant album in techno long play history ie SAWII. Odd tracks on crappy 'Now ultimate dance rave house party' compilations don't count. It's difficult to criticise on the basis of one bad EP... but if the next is equally crappy... So I'll agree with the above when amended to 'Everything produced after "SAWII" has failed to ignite me'... Mind you, AB3 had a lot of shite on it. greg 3 0 3

Dans la Matrice, Pete Ashdown a dit:

quoted 6 lines it wasn't ambient music though; the two singles consist of discs cut from

> > >it wasn't ambient music though; the two singles consist of discs cut from > >different sandpaper grades, with holes punched in the centre. And yes, > > Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of > value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry?

Sandpaper 7", scratched and painted CDs, locked grooves, low sampling rates etc... these are all typical things in the industrial music world. I think Richard is just trying to do that, but has missed the point... I'm surprised in fact that some of his stuff wasn't labelled industrial. Ciao, -- Francois Dion (IdMEDIA) [> Email: francois@hyperreal.com <] ' [> C.P. 278, St-Lambert, QC, Canada, J4P 2N8 <] [> Raving Up North Ezine: run-request@hyperreal.com, subject: help <]

On Thu, 8 Dec 1994, Francois Dion wrote:

quoted 7 lines Dans la Matrice, Pete Ashdown a dit:

> Dans la Matrice, Pete Ashdown a dit: > > > > >it wasn't ambient music though; the two singles consist of discs cut from > > >different sandpaper grades, with holes punched in the centre. And yes, > > Sandpaper 7", scratched and painted CDs, locked grooves, low sampling rates > etc... these are all typical things in the industrial music world. I think

I have a Factory Records "Return Of the Durutti Column" Tape release that came in a special box (typical factory arty-ness) that had 100grit sandpaper for the cover. I think it was meant to be a contrast to the extremely calm/ambient music inside. Must have wrecked havoc on other tapes when in shipment. Zoviet France has used similar textures on some records I have: tar roofing tiles, burlap, sheet metal, etc. RHK is not being very inventive in the context of arty-music-history, but he probably seems that way in the less-experimental idm/dj'ing circles... IMHO that is. David Chandler - chandler@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us (503)301-3011 "Sleep & Learn" work - (503)248-5223 studio/home - voicemail/pager

On Sun, 11 Dec 1994, David Chandler wrote:

quoted 7 lines I have a Factory Records "Return Of the Durutti Column" Tape release that

> I have a Factory Records "Return Of the Durutti Column" Tape release that > came in a special box (typical factory arty-ness) that had 100grit > sandpaper for the cover. I think it was meant to be a contrast to the > extremely calm/ambient music inside. Must have wrecked havoc on other > tapes when in shipment. Zoviet France has used similar textures on some > records I have: tar roofing tiles, burlap, sheet metal, etc. >

This was also done with the vinyl release, which ensured that any LP placed next to it would have its cover systematically destroyed. Vini was a punk, after all. Dave .------------------------------------------dave.manning@dreamland.unomaha.edu | "It's in my brain now..." dmanning@cwis.unomaha.edu | dmanning@eworld.com .-------------------------------------------- dgmanning@aol.com

On Mon, 12 Dec 1994, Dave Manning wrote:

quoted 8 lines sandpaper for the cover. I think it was meant to be a contrast to the

> > sandpaper for the cover. I think it was meant to be a contrast to the > > extremely calm/ambient music inside. Must have wrecked havoc on other > > tapes when in shipment. Zoviet France has used similar textures on some > > records I have: tar roofing tiles, burlap, sheet metal, etc. > > This was also done with the vinyl release, which ensured that any LP > placed next to it would have its cover systematically destroyed. Vini was > a punk, after all.

Yes, it seems he was a punk. I was looking at one of my old records last week (Beggars Banquet 1 - a compilation of punk bands) and realized that the track "Ain't Been to No Music School" by the Nosebleeds was Vini Reilly on guitar and Morrisey on vocals. The LP also has the original "Talk Talk" by Talk Talk (except they were called something else) which is a lark, but mentioning it does slightly bring this thread back to the subject of dance music ("It's My Mix" '84 Talk Talk LP - not exactly intelligent as in idm, tho). Ok, I'm off topic. I'll only do this via personal mail now. David Chandler - chandler@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us (503)301-3011 "Sleep & Learn" work - (503)248-5223 studio/home - voicemail/pager

Pete Ashdown said ::

quoted 8 lines Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of

> > Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of > value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry? > I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite. I pulled out Digeridoo the > other night just to make sure this was the same person, and I couldn't > believe the difference. Not just Digeridoo, but AB1, Flaphead, and > Isoprophlex are absolute genius as well. Everything produced after "On" > has failed to ignite me.

I'm with ya, Pete. I don't have AB4, but I can say the "fart/race car" track on that Select magazine tape is crap, as well as "Aphex Airlines" on _Isolationism_. These tunes in particular just don't cut it for me anymore. SAWII was nice, but it's not one of my favorites. Is the dream over? Maybe... Wake up time. Andrew -- (c) 1994, Andrew Bennett abennett@hyperreal.com <a href="http://hyperreal.com/~abennett/">Andrew's Page</a>

OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good. Which of his works /tracks are the best then? I would be interested to hear peoples opinion about this. I have "Surfin on sinewaves", "Analog bubblebath" (from TVT records) "SAW2" and some collections (I like "Cunt" :-) What else shoudh I get? /Oskar

On Wed, 7 Dec 1994 enok@lysator.liu.se wrote:

quoted 5 lines OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good.

> OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good. > Which of his works /tracks are the best then? I would be interested to > hear peoples opinion about this. I have "Surfin on sinewaves", "Analog > bubblebath" (from TVT records) "SAW2" and some collections (I like "Cunt" :-) > What else shoudh I get?

Well, like Pete said, probably everything before ABIV which though good, wasn't all I expected it to be. Definately worth looking for: Digeridoo EP, Xylem Tube EP, Selected Ambient Works Vol 1, Joyrex J4, and Joyrex J5. All classic afx. Why do I get the feeling that we'll be eating our words soon? Remember what happened when someone said that afx has gotten soft - ABIV came out that week. I think ABV, which is listed as a full length, will bring back the happy days. :: Alan M. Parry :: fluid@hyperreal.com :: <finger me for PGP key> :: http://hyperreal.com/~fluid

|OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good. |Which of his works /tracks are the best then? I would be interested to |hear peoples opinion about this. I have "Surfin on sinewaves", "Analog |bubblebath" (from TVT records) "SAW2" and some collections (I like "Cunt" :-) |What else shoudh I get? | |/Oskar | Despite our list's tendency to quickly slag with little to no provocation, I personally still think RDJ has a good bit of creative spark in 'im. I mean, anyone who is prolific is going to release non-stellar material. There's a certain value in the shear variety of the material. He's taken us from the beatless serenity of "Stone In Focus" (SAWII) to the manic joyride of ".55278037732581" (ABIII) to the skull crushing assault of "Quoth" and back to the demented nursery rhyme of "My Teapot" (Art. Intell. 2), all within the period of a year or so. It's highly unlikely that anyone will "click" with the full range of AFX (sweet vs. caustic, classic vs. shite), but there's something to be said for breadth. I still vote for SAW85-92 and AB3 for standout originality and overall quality. As always , your mileage WILL vary. 1995 prediction: RDJ will use AB5 to make us relook at the way we think about IDM. "AFX vs. u-Ziq" will make us look at our shoes sheepishly and say "sheeeeeesh". peeeece, Jeff Davis ____--~~~~~~vvvv~~~~ oo jjdavis@xnet.com____---- ( ( ( vvvv ~~~~~~ooooooooooo ___----( ( \ \ \ \ \vvv oooooooooooooo 815.772.1260 ____---- ( \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ vvooooooooooooooooooooo

On Wed, 7 Dec 1994, Jeff Davis wrote:

quoted 3 lines 1995 prediction: RDJ will use AB5 to make us relook at the way we think

> 1995 prediction: RDJ will use AB5 to make us relook at the way we think > about IDM. "AFX vs. u-Ziq" will make us look at our shoes sheepishly and > say "sheeeeeesh".

Jeff speaks the truth. Lets wait for these potential beauties and make up our minds then. || [CiM] || u9323899@sys.uea.ac.uk || http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~u9323899/

quoted 5 lines Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of

> Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of > value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry? > I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite. I pulled out Digeridoo the > other night just to make sure this was the same person, and I couldn't > believe the difference.

i heartily agree. i use to worship rdj being awestruck by his originality and genius. ab, digeridoo, saw1 and the polygon window lp were ground breaking but most of the recent stuff has been dire. either richard has gone seriously off the boil (get an early night) or he is most definately taking the piss. has there been any recent interviews where this viewpoint has been suggested and thus a reaction from the ex-godlike's mouth been recorded? i am reluctant to even give new rdj stuff a listen whereas before it would have been near automatic buy. someone sit him down and give him a good talking to. c+ -could do better later matt

If anyone here is interested in information on Raves happening in and around Baltimore try : http://www.charm.net/~davew/Baltimore/BaltoMusic2.html under Raves. If this doesn't intrest anyone, just ignore it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Whats to keep this whole world from foaming at the mouth?" -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

quoted 5 lines OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good.

>OK most of the recent Aphex works aren't so good. >Which of his works /tracks are the best then? I would be interested to >hear peoples opinion about this. I have "Surfin on sinewaves", "Analog >bubblebath" (from TVT records) "SAW2" and some collections (I like "Cunt" :-) >What else shoudh I get?

The "On" EP is good, SAW 85-92 (volume 1) is not as ambient as SAW2, but for me that is a positive. Analogue Bubblebath volume 3 is extremely difficult to find, but some of the songs are saaweeeeeet! One more: Aphex Twin Classics should be released soon, which has IMO his very best songs (Didgeridoo, Polynomia C, Isoprophlex, and other old-school Aphex). -bob onnow: 76 14

quoted 7 lines Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of

>Does anyone feel that Richard has completely stopped producing anything of >value and is simply taking a gigantic piss on fans and the music industry? >I mean, the first track on AB4 is utter shite. I pulled out Digeridoo the >other night just to make sure this was the same person, and I couldn't >believe the difference. Not just Digeridoo, but AB1, Flaphead, and >Isoprophlex are absolute genius as well. Everything produced after "On" >has failed to ignite me.

I would have to agree. SAW II wasn't really very good when compared to SAW I. It sounds good when you are stoned, but so does Bob and Doug McKenzie's Great White North Album. AB 4 is not good. AB 3 was OK, but not great. The man is talented, but I think it has gone to his head. I just hope he pulls his act together, a good put down is really what he needs probably. Freeside System Error....Strike any user to continue http://www.wimsey.com/~rstride/index.html rstride@wimsey.com

a > I'm with ya, Pete. I don't have AB4, but I can say the "fart/race car" a > track a > on that Select magazine tape is crap, as well as "Aphex Airlines" on a > _Isolationism_. I think the Select-tape-track was incredible (beautiful that is)... It's one of the best tracks he made. It's so fucking original! a > SAWII was nice, but it's not one of my favorites. I loved it... a > Is the dream over? Maybe... Wake up time. I would say he's better than ever... CU!

can there really be three(or more?) durritti column fans on the idm list? amazing. theres more post here about dc then on the durritti column list! Other records of note-the mute Non/Smegma split 7", multi speed, variable axis, two hole record. The Non black album, packaged with a bag of sand to throw on the grooves. Chop Shop releasing cart loops. Lee Ranaldo's From Here to INfinity record of locked grooves. the RRR 100 7" clear vinyl, 100 locked grooves. -dan

On Mon, 12 Dec 1994 SDS0564@OCVAXA.CC.OBERLIN.EDU wrote:

quoted 7 lines can there really be three(or more?) durritti column fans on the idm list?

> can there really be three(or more?) durritti column fans on the idm list? > amazing. theres more post here about dc then on the durritti column list! > Other records of note-the mute Non/Smegma split 7", multi speed, variable axis, > two hole record. The Non black album, packaged with a bag of sand to throw on > the grooves. Chop Shop releasing cart loops. Lee Ranaldo's From Here to > INfinity record of locked grooves. the RRR 100 7" clear vinyl, 100 locked > grooves.

That last 7" is quite an excellent ambient record. Plus, 50 grooves per side give you a semi-random basis of selection. It is an excellent thing to put on in the morning, sort of like flipping through which of the 100 "sides of the bed you're getting up from", if you know what I mean... Is there a locked-groove vinyl listserv out there? I'd buy anything else like that RRR single I might discover. 100 infinite ambiences, I consider it. Please forward to me the info about the durutti column listserv, thanks! David Chandler - chandler@nethost.multnomah.lib.or.us (503)301-3011 "Sleep & Learn" work - (503)248-5223 studio/home - voicemail/pager