Monumental.

On first impressions, I thought maybe he could have done this on one album, by perhaps condensing it to just the more obviously infectous tracks.

But those tracks which don't grab you at first surely grow on you.
From prepared piano of Kladfvgbung Micshk, and gentle classical grace of Strotha Tynhe - to the electronic drum savagery of Cock Ver10 and Ziggomatic V17... There's as much here for the electroacoustic fanatic as there is for the chemically-induced hardcore nutbag.

That's probably the problem for some listeners... but for those with a wider appreciation of music - absolutley essential listening.

It seems like Aphex Twin's last 'proper' album (not including 26 remixes) for Warp split fans down the middle. A lot of people criticised the album for it's lack of consistency - including both furious drill'n'bass numbers alongside light & dark 'prepared' piano pieces. cunfused a lot of people. Many said the work was outdated or that it was James' idea to releases a poor album so that Warp would have no hesitation in splitting with him.
WRONG! This is Aphex's finest album (although I don't include SAW2 cause its too different to compare). In my opinion it certainly seperates the part-timers from those who are prepared to put the time and effort in to get to know an albums intricacies.
Firstly, it's quite differnt to his previous RDJ & ICBYD. They were great albums but quite a raw sound. Here, the production is better, crisper and the edits tighter.
I think the comment s about this being some sort of severence tool with Warp and/or an Album that Richard cared little about is bollocks.
There's 2 basic styles on here for starters, two CD's and he's gone to the trouble of learning about a complely new tool - the prepared piano (been discussed elsewhere) as well as the fact that he's gone to the trouble of getting it cut really well (even better for the ltd edition!) - doesn't sound like someone who doesn't give a shit does it.
The album is vast and complex. On the one hand you've got the instrumental pieces partly done with the piano, although unlike anything you will have heard by Aphex previously:
The album starts with a great track 'Jynweythek' - very nostalgia inducing, later on the track 'Gwely Mernans' is reminiscent of SAW2 and some such as 'Avril 14th' are genuinely uplifting. One of the most interesting is 'Gwarek2'. Probably the scariest tune he's ever done. It doesn't just sound like a horror soundtrack it actually sounds like the film itself. It's actually got a recording of a woman that sounds like she's being tortured. I wouldn't recommend listening to it in a K-hole, put it like that!
The rest of the album are the 'proper' songs. They kind of sound like Analord only on 45 and better! The beauty of buying the vinyl is that you can listen to them on both speeds - definately what was intended (just listen to them and you'll know what I mean) whaich means you get an absolutley HUGE and original album for your money.
The only bad thing is the box is way to big for the vinyl, but it's not exactly a deal-breaker!

How far can too far go ?
The people of Warp Records were probably thinking of this advertising slogan from "From Dusk Till Dawn" when they released this. And this avenue led to the goal. But in my opinion, this whole thing is an absurdity from start to finish: The size of the box comparing to the content. The amount of records. Yes, AND the music.
I know, there are people here, who think this is RDJ`s masterpiece, but I can`t follow them. Except three or four tracks , this-for me-is just a compilation of left-overs wrapped in a huge package to make it extraordinary and to place it as an collectors item.

'Drukqs' straddles infuriating frustration and pure entertainment with ease. The camp is always going to be split along the genius/gargabe lines (although personally I do love a bit of Mt Saint Michel Mix+St Michaels Mount on 33...), but what is quite obvious is RDJ's reluctance to get commercially involved, especially after the media frenzy over Come To Daddy and Windowlicker.

Rumour has it that RDJ has no interest whatsoever in fulfilling his contract with Warp, and only release Drukqs because he left an ipod (titled '1000 unrealsed aphex twin tracks') on an aeroplane, and panicked, thinking it was going to get out on the internet.

This is Richard D. James masterpiece. His analord series ( which I highly recommend ) is merely a gimmick compared to this seminal piece of music. From sounds of beauty to sounds of sadness and fear this album is surely ( as it is rumoured ) James' last will and testament. I hope for more in the future, ( I just wish I had a valve amplifier to listen to Analord, maybe then it would be different )