I remember buying this on my 17th birthday in 2007 and since then must have listened to the songs Blue Calx, Parallel Stripes, and Rhubarb at least once everyday since then...
Its these three (but especially Rhubarb) that to me have become the soundtrack to just about every emotion harvested within me since that time. Some of the most pure and sincere music you will ever hear. Not to say the rest of the album isn't as good, but its worth getting if not just for these three songs alone...
Incredible stuff :)

Absolutely fantastic, even the more upbeat calm tracks have a haunting quality to them. Throw your headphones on, be ready to think. All the songs have such great textural quality in addition to their fantastic melodies. Recommended to the fullest degree. The black pressing (this release) as mentioned above has a far greater overall sound quality. In addition, the packaging and inside jacket images add a nice aesthetic touch, a visual addition to the sounds you'll be hearing. Enjoy.

Aphex Twin – Rhubarb
(Or whatever it is called).
It’s on Selected works volume II
This piece of music deserves the labelling of genius. There’s no Bass, Kick drum, hi-hats, vocals. ..
Just bare strings programmed in an order to create such over-whelming emotion. That’s where the genius comes in... The Lay person will not appreciate this or even have the patience to realise its impact, just like the masses who thought Mozart was a lunatic all those years ago.
How can I compare Richard D James to Mozart? Easy...
Just listen to this with an open mind, let it take control, don’t over-concentrate.
It’s about balance and patience.
The weighted strings, rising emotion, then the killer punch...
5 mins 55 seconds
Gets me every time

This is in my opinion the best ambient album ever made by a human being (if we can consider Richard D. James to be a human being)and surely a milestone in the history of ambient music. Every single piece of music on this lovely black wax is a masterpiece on it’s own. It’s difficult or even impossible to pick out one track that stands out as they all tell a different story. Richard D. James switches without any problem from melancholic or mystical moods to deep, dark and even menacing slices of ambient.

I think I’ve already listened to this album a billion times and it still sends shivers down my spine, even more than 10 years after it’s release. Whatever my mood is, I can always enjoy this breathtaking ambient trip. I used to have times in the past were I was deeply depressed and where this album totally took me with into my most horrifying thoughts, nevertheless I’ve never wanted to ban this musical epic out of my life, whatever my memories or moods to this album were. I just want to say that I experienced the most diverse moods on this album.

So be aware, if you’re a real ambient freak and you live in a rich world of fantasy, this album can seriously drag you along with your moods and thoughts, whatever they may be. This album is a world or universe on it’s own. An absolutely astonishing, essential and brilliant piece of musical art. Timeless...

To date, I have yet to hear an ambient track that can surpass the haunting beauty that is track 3 from disc 1 (otherwise known as "rhubarb"). "Isolation Part 1" by Pulusha came close, but the understated pads and delicate chords are about as close as one could come to complete ambient bliss. It is sad, it is melancholic, and it is just brilliant. Also look out for track 8 from disc 2 ("Lichen") which is similarly essential.

Really nice and "freakish" soundscapes. Most of the time without a slice of beats. When those are present, they are subtle and do not distract from the drones, piano or melodies. When the record end the perfect record companion to play next is Leo Anibaldi - Void (CAT 031 CD). It spices things up because of the industrial beats on some of the tracks but this is a sort of continuation, a darker one. Like an industrial version of SAW II.

It is true that the "regular" black edition does sound better, having said that - this album is a true ambient staple. What we have here is personally one of my favourite releases from Mr. Richard D. James (Aphex Twin).

This wonderfully crafted album has a mood all of its own, a shape shifting creation that slowly crawls through your imagination. This album has been my good friend on many late nights in the dark.

There are no actual track names (you can find ones given to them on the internet though, which are generally accepted), there are however pictures taken by none other than the artist himself, that correspond through pie charts to the tracks.

In a supposed interview he mentioned that he wrote some or all of these tracks while in a dream like state or "lucid dreaming" where one is in control of their dream world. If this is true I do not fully know, but it sure sounds like it from listening to the album.

These tracks are mesmerizing, and create their own worlds for you to enjoy. Dark, brooding, hypnotic, this is a real gem for ambient fans. Cherish this one!

Although the brown vinyl issue is so-called limited (10.000 copies, right) this black-wax edition is much scarcer. Warp actually pressed less than the limited edition. Now u finally know why u rarely see a black one for sale. If u get the chance to grab this "standard" edition don't hesitate as the quality of sound is so much better. If it wasn't that the brown album also had a different sleeve (black and white instead of brown) I would have sold that one ages ago since the vinyl reproduces disturbing noise throughout.

I had purchased this album through a track i'd heard on Solid Steel back in 1994 (called 'Rhubarb')....An emotionally simple track which transcends the mind to an almost spiritual being. Like the other reviewers, i agree the album was a tad hard to listen to in parts back in 94..but now I really feel this LP/CD.This was a time when ambience was at it's height & Aphex hit the right notes,but sadly the album wasn't well received then.But now it has a deserved place in the classics.I had purchased both CD & coloured Vinyl,because the vinyl had a track that's not featured on the CD...Anyway,an emotional, mindbending rollercoaster...call it your'Being Aphex Twin' to your 'Malkovich' of music!!!

Easily my favorite Aphex Twin album, and the release that got me into ambient music. IMO most of RDJ's stuff is technically impressive, but the shock of innovation wears off with repeated listening. This album is the exact opposite - the focus on woozy, minimal production and repetitive melodic snippets gives the album a lot of staying power, and it doesn't sound dated at all. Lots of variety, too: the mood ranges from blissed-out washes of synth to dark, brooding soundscapes that wouldn't sound out of place in a horror movie soundtrack. Some tracks have beats, but most don't. You have to be really patient to get into it, but that should be a given. "Cliffs" (Track 1) is probably one of my favorite songs ever. A nearly flawless album. If Monet made ambient music it would sound a lot like this.