Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Label:
Catalog#:
WARPCD21
Format:
2 x CD, Album
Country:
UK
Released:
07 Mar 1994
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Experimental,
Ambient
Tracklist
| 1-01 | Untitled | 7:20 | ||
| 1-02 | Untitled | 6:27 | ||
| 1-03 | Untitled | 7:36 | ||
| 1-04 | Untitled | 4:34 | ||
| 1-05 | Untitled | 8:46 | ||
| 1-06 | Untitled | 3:27 | ||
| 1-07 | Untitled | 8:42 | ||
| 1-08 | Untitled | 5:03 | ||
| 1-09 | Untitled | 6:47 | ||
| 1-10 | Untitled | 9:48 | ||
| 1-11 | Untitled | 7:10 | ||
| 1-12 | Untitled | 2:38 | ||
| 2-01 | Blue Calx | 7:19 | ||
| 2-02 | Untitled | 8:00 | ||
| 2-03 | Untitled | 5:33 | ||
| 2-04 | Untitled | 4:45 | ||
| 2-05 | Untitled | 2:05 | ||
| 2-06 | Untitled | 7:16 | ||
| 2-07 | Untitled | 5:57 | ||
| 2-08 | Untitled | 4:15 | ||
| 2-09 | Untitled | 7:09 | ||
| 2-10 | Untitled | 7:30 | ||
| 2-11 | Untitled | 11:27 | ||
| 2-12 | Untitled | 5:39 |
Notes
All selections published by Chrysalis Music. ℗ and © Warp Records 1994.
Track 2-01 was previously released on the compilation The Philosophy Of Sound And Machine.
All tracks (except track 2-01) are untitled, and are instead represented by photographs. On the artwork are six pie charts, representing the six sides of the vinyl edition, each pie slice representing a track (track length deciding the size of the pie slice), clockwise from top. By comparing each colour-coded pie chart with the small pie symbol on each photograph, it is possible to match track to photograph.
The artwork indicates 25 tracks, as on the vinyl and cassette edition, but there are in fact only 24 tracks on the CDs. The missing track, represented by the 19th pie slice, can be found on the CD compilation Excursions In Ambience - The Third Dimension.
Barcode 5 021603 021129
The following matrix variations are known (where // stands for a new section):
CD 1: WARPCD21/1 10273491 01 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 20273491 01 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO
CD 1: WARPCD21/1 10273491 09 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO // IFPI L134 // IFPI 0466
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 20273491 04 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO // IFPI L132 // IFPI 0466
CD 1: WARPCD21-1 // IFPI LR61 // 8/28/02
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 // IFPI LR61 // 9/4/02
CD 1: WARPCD21-1 / 2 // IFPI L038
CD 2: WARPCD-21-2 04223-8453 // IFPI LU31
Track 2-01 was previously released on the compilation The Philosophy Of Sound And Machine.
All tracks (except track 2-01) are untitled, and are instead represented by photographs. On the artwork are six pie charts, representing the six sides of the vinyl edition, each pie slice representing a track (track length deciding the size of the pie slice), clockwise from top. By comparing each colour-coded pie chart with the small pie symbol on each photograph, it is possible to match track to photograph.
The artwork indicates 25 tracks, as on the vinyl and cassette edition, but there are in fact only 24 tracks on the CDs. The missing track, represented by the 19th pie slice, can be found on the CD compilation Excursions In Ambience - The Third Dimension.
Barcode 5 021603 021129
The following matrix variations are known (where // stands for a new section):
CD 1: WARPCD21/1 10273491 01 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 20273491 01 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO
CD 1: WARPCD21/1 10273491 09 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO // IFPI L134 // IFPI 0466
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 20273491 04 & // MADE IN U.K. BY PDO // IFPI L132 // IFPI 0466
CD 1: WARPCD21-1 // IFPI LR61 // 8/28/02
CD 2: WARPCD21/2 // IFPI LR61 // 9/4/02
CD 1: WARPCD21-1 / 2 // IFPI L038
CD 2: WARPCD-21-2 04223-8453 // IFPI LU31
Recommendations
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Aphex Twin - ...I Care Because You Do (CD, Album)
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Aphex Twin - Drukqs (2xCD, Album)
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Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album (CD, Album)
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Autechre - Incunabula (CD, Album)
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Aphex Twin - 26 Mixes For Cash (2xCD, Comp, Dig)
▸ show all 17 reviews
Reviews & Discussion
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.
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.
The Beatles followed up the baroque ornateness of Sgt. Pepper's with the stark balladry and straightfoward rock of The White Album. In some respects, the same effect is achieved by Richard James here. SAW 85-92 was an enormously successful album encompassing several subgenres which helped to break listening electonica into the mainstream. Here, the man returns to the roots of electronica--the influence of Eno, of course, is present ("Rhubarb" sounds like it could have been an outtake from On Land), but one can also discern inspiration from La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Wendy Carlos, Morton Subotnick, later Stockhausen, Otto Luening, early Kraftwerk, and early Tangerine Dream within the groovess.
At the time, SAW V2 was malinged by critics and the public, and with the ascendancy of the more rhythmic trance and breakbeat it likely will be for years to come. As somebody else pointed out, SAW 85-92 already sounds very dated and a product of its period; this recording constantly reveals new textures to me.
At the time, SAW V2 was malinged by critics and the public, and with the ascendancy of the more rhythmic trance and breakbeat it likely will be for years to come. As somebody else pointed out, SAW 85-92 already sounds very dated and a product of its period; this recording constantly reveals new textures to me.
Most probobly Aphex Twin's most minimalistic work, it is a cerebral adventure with little foundation. It is truly an album meant for the patient, or at least those who think they can appreciate ambient music. Make sure you get the Warp release, which has the extra song "Hankie", which I unfortunately missed out on.
In my time as i have fallen further down the spiral of IDM, i have yet to come across something so beautiful as this. RDJ has out done himself and has created a masterpiece that anyone will agree, is without a doubt some of the most compelling and gorgeous soundscape excursions. As in such case: I was sitting in my house one night around christmas, only thing on was the lights from the tree (dim white lights) and the display from my CD player. I was sitting in solitude, just thinking. My brother walks in high as a kite from smoking blunts all night. I dont acknowledge him, but keep listening. He stood in the doorway not turning on any lights, not saying a word for 3 full tracks. At which point he utters "what the fuck is THAT." Him being a thug and only hearing rap all day, this was new to him. He bought a copy the next day.
It has something for everyone.
btw...the Spawn Animated series from HBO a couple years back....the ending credits. find it. :)
It has something for everyone.
btw...the Spawn Animated series from HBO a couple years back....the ending credits. find it. :)
Aphex Twin, in all of his guises (AFX, Caustic Window...) has always amazed me with his aural textures and his talent at making truly intelligent music.
This is most decidedly true for SAW II, ambient at its spooky best (this is true ambient, very little percussion, if any, is used on these tracks). It starts off with "Cliffs", where you genuinely feel like your in the Rockies in the blazing sun, staring out over the Grand Canyon. That leads into "Radiator", both claustrophobic and wide-open with its bell-harmonies.
"Blue Calx", the only track that has a definite name, is by far the best track on the album; haunting synth-strings over a very simple time-keeping rhythm; simply amazing.
This is truly 21st century classical music; never once does this album give away that it is, in fact, an electronic album.
Definite highlights include 1:1 ("Cliffs"), 1:2("Radiator"), 1:3("Rhubarb"-absolutely beautiful), 1:9("Tree - a piece of music you only thought you'd hear in your nightmares), Blue Calx, 2:2("Parallel Stripes"), and 2:8("Lichen").
An ABSOLUTE must-have!
This is most decidedly true for SAW II, ambient at its spooky best (this is true ambient, very little percussion, if any, is used on these tracks). It starts off with "Cliffs", where you genuinely feel like your in the Rockies in the blazing sun, staring out over the Grand Canyon. That leads into "Radiator", both claustrophobic and wide-open with its bell-harmonies.
"Blue Calx", the only track that has a definite name, is by far the best track on the album; haunting synth-strings over a very simple time-keeping rhythm; simply amazing.
This is truly 21st century classical music; never once does this album give away that it is, in fact, an electronic album.
Definite highlights include 1:1 ("Cliffs"), 1:2("Radiator"), 1:3("Rhubarb"-absolutely beautiful), 1:9("Tree - a piece of music you only thought you'd hear in your nightmares), Blue Calx, 2:2("Parallel Stripes"), and 2:8("Lichen").
An ABSOLUTE must-have!
SAW2 is excellent sleeping music. A lot of people will probably shun it out because it is true beatless ambient music (contrary to SAW85-92) and because of how lengthy and reptitive the tracks are. The album can envoke lots of different moods and emotions, tracks like "Rhubarb" and "White Blur 1" envoke a feeling of euphoria, where as other tracks sound like a melodic horror movie soundtrack.
This is a massive dissapointment after "Vol 1" and in my opinion one of the weakest Aphex releases, there is definately no need for this to be a double CD. Anyone expecting more of the variety of "Ambient" tracks on Vol 1 will be sorely dissapointed, this set consists mostly of minor low key drones which although interesting to begin with soon become monotonous and unimaginative and I very rarely managed the enthusiasm to listen to CD2. It is Ambient in the original sense of the word i.e. Background sound, I expected more from Mr James. I would love to see him do a Vol 3 more in the spirit of Vol 1, his experiments with Satie style piano compositions on Drukqs indicate that it could be a much more satisfying addition to the "Ambient Works" series.
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 :)