IDM Mailing Archive

Hi y'all, I've been listening to the Ventolin CDs again recently (unfortunately I haven't had time to listen to them *many* times, but a few times anyway) and was wondering something: I can't detect much similarity between the mixes (except for the obvious Aphex sound, and maybe a beat here and there), and was wondering if there was a common thread running through all the mixes (prob'ly not, since his remixes are pretty obliterative anyway)..... cya brian

quoted 5 lines I can't detect much similarity between the

>I can't detect much similarity between the >mixes (except for the obvious Aphex sound, and maybe a beat here and >there), and was wondering if there was a common thread running through >all the mixes (prob'ly not, since his remixes are pretty obliterative >anyway).....

They are all about asthma in one subtle way or the other. Most notably these mixes: "Salbutamol mix" and "Wheeze mix": the screeching noise is that of an asthma-sick person breathing, "Praze-an-beeble mix": asthma laughs, "Marazanvose mix": asthma groan, "Asthma beats mix": asthma beats... ________________________________________________________ Johan Jaatinen, enigmatically posting as Anika Agebjoern aniag@info.liu.se

On Fri, 17 May 1996, Anika Agebjoern wrote:

quoted 5 lines I can't detect much similarity between the

> >I can't detect much similarity between the > >mixes (except for the obvious Aphex sound, and maybe a beat here and > >there), and was wondering if there was a common thread running through > >all the mixes (prob'ly not, since his remixes are pretty obliterative > >anyway).....

The first time I heard the Cylob mix, it sounded like the original Ventolin riff (hehe), only squashed somehow. I can't see it like that anymore, however...

quoted 5 lines They are all about asthma in one subtle way or the other. Most notably

> They are all about asthma in one subtle way or the other. Most notably > these mixes: "Salbutamol mix" and "Wheeze mix": the screeching noise is > that of an asthma-sick person breathing, "Praze-an-beeble mix": asthma > laughs, "Marazanvose mix": asthma groan, "Asthma beats mix": asthma > beats...

Yes, I heard somewhere that R. James dedicated the song to England's asthma sufferers (...I Care Because You Wheeze), but where does that leave us winded Yanks? Anyway, salbutamol is the name of some inhaler chemical, and Ventolin makes these capsules called Rotocaps contain this powder looks like cocaine. The powder is inahaled through the mouth and tastes pretty good. The Ventolin mixes can be understood as aural impressions of the plight of the substance-dependent asthmatic. The Cylob mix depicts subdued desperation as he finds himself without inhaler and struggles to maintain composure while lungs periodically complain in alien tongue. Probus is the inhaler kick that induces brief euphoria. Whatever... Ed

Edward Nilges wrote:

quoted 5 lines The Ventolin mixes can be understood as aural impressions of the plight

> The Ventolin mixes can be understood as aural impressions of the plight > of the substance-dependent asthmatic. The Cylob mix depicts subdued > desperation as he finds himself without inhaler and struggles to maintain > composure while lungs periodically complain in alien tongue. Probus > is the inhaler kick that induces brief euphoria.

Wow, coolest interpretation of the Ventolin tracks I've ever heard, regardless of RDJ's intent when making the tunes... In reference to the Plug thread, I'd agree that strange noises on a track are sometimes gimmicky, but the Ventolin EP is a good example of the expressive power of non-standard rhythmic and tonal sounds... GD

quoted 1 line In reference to the Plug thread, I'd agree that strange noises on a track

>In reference to the Plug thread, I'd agree that strange noises on a track

are sometimes

quoted 1 line gimmicky, but the Ventolin EP is a good example of the expressive power of

>gimmicky, but the Ventolin EP is a good example of the expressive power of

non-standard

quoted 1 line rhythmic and tonal sounds...

>rhythmic and tonal sounds...

This is just the thing that spurred me to ask for that tape of Aphex history a month ago. I had just gotten Ventolin, which is the only AT record I own besides Gak and a SAW2 tape, and I was struck by the collision of sound coming out of my speakers with the Aphex history (~ionics) and gear-talk that I had been exposed to over the years. The result of that collision was the idea that though he may have built his sounds from scratch and pickle-wire and he may have the roots of crunchy techno in his back pocket, the way and where that he places those sounds is surprisingly mundane. eric