(An HTML version of this review with sound snippets can be found at:
http://hyperreal.com/music/reviews/davis/aphex.donkey/donkey.html)
Aphex Twin:
Donkey Rhubarb
141 6:08 Donkey Rhubarb
143 5:49 Vaz Deferenz
142 8:05 Icct Hedral (Phillip Glass Orchestration)
117 4:31 Pancake Lizard
The latest from RDJ is a mixed bag, kind of a sandwich. A so-what and a
crunchy throwaway surrounded by two real gems. Definitely maintaining
the feel of the ICBYD sessions, the 4 songs are worth snatching up, but
don't rush out to buy it just to get the RDJ/Phillip Glass
collaboration.
The title track is a fun, punchy little number with a real street
carnival kind of feel. James brings the steel drums from Mookid and
Alberto Balsam along, but they're used here to get you up and jumpin'in
the streets. The cutesy melody laid on top makes you smile and bounce
frenetically. There's a great extended Rephlex style drum break near the
end, which reemphasizes how lovely the unique melodic elements are once
they're feathered back in.
Vaz Deferenz. One song. One painful title. One sequencer. At least 6
dissonant rhythmic looping patterns. Three different time signatures.
Four different tempos. Muchos noise. Richard James standing off to the
side smoking and nodding approvingly, with a grin that says "Slag Off".
He says he cares, but he don't be fooled.
The Icct Hedral reworking is nice and everything, but all collaboration
has been stripped out, and this version is accurately named as an
"Orchestration". No electronics that I could detect, and I gotta tell
you, I miss that cheetah screeching which really built the tension into
the original version. I guess RDJ just hung out in the orchestra pit on
this one, probably laying down under the timpani drums. Don't get me
wrong, it's nice, but it may be too nice. The only added orchestral
elements that you really notice are the contra-bass trombone fat bottom
hits and the little flute and piccolo trills in the refrain segment.
Good fodder for getting Aphex played on the classical show at your local
college station.
I really love the closer, Pancake Lizard. It's a slow marcher, with a
very royal and regal flavor. You can almost see the crushed velvet clad
king of modern techno, nose elevated at the proper angle, leading the
procession, much to the crowd's approval. The entire piece is framed by
some very staccato violin work and when Richard weaves some thick funk
so tightly around these strings that you almost need a sonic microscope
to peel it off, it's a thing of beauty. You can't dance to this one, you
can't chill to it, but I guarantee, you'll like it. It left me feeling
good and very optimistic, which is nice these days.
all rights reserved, all wrongs reversed, 1995.
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