I've always thought it astounding that this album gets such good critique. I've listened to 100s of electronica albums and this gets the title of my worst purchase! Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works were masterpieces, but this is a load of drivel. First off, the length of the album (just 30 minutes) makes it hardly a proper album in the first place.

The tracks are all about 3 minutes long and are full of computer generated garbage that just does not contain the beauty or intelligence that others would have you believe. They are repetitive, annoying and here we have an experimental album that seriously failed, in my opinion. The whole album could've been put together in less than its total time; it's just a load of junk produced by old disjointed equipment. Don't be like me and make this your first purchase from Aphex, start with his Ambient Works unless you enjoy being brainwashed by good reviews.

So much of the generic population refer to this album when critiquing Aphex's style or ability to write music without considering his whole career of writing music. Such folley and misguidance. Some people need to actually take some time and delve a little, and learn. Aphex's music abilities were way advanced before this ablum was put out. The Hangable auto bulb eps were a precursor to this album's style and were amazing, as was Melodies from Mars with folk medlies. Drum n bass was not Aphex's only forte, thus the releases of Analord series to turn the bubbleheads away. Wash and rinse.

This was, in my opinion, a fantastic album. It contained the breakneck speed "drill 'n' bass" that I love to hear from RDJ. As has been said in above comments, you either love it or hate it. In my opinion, before one decides that they hate it, they must first listen to it at least twice, as many things seem to pop out upon second listens. A fantastic listen overall.

This one was ok the first time I listened to it. The obvious good tracks at first were the ones like '4'. I listened to it through several more times. Suddenly, it popped out at me. There we are. Beautiful album, in it's entirety. I don't know if the version with the Girl/Boy single right on it is on this album, but that is what I have. Quite nice, it is. I think, next to the monumental '4', one of my favorite songs on here is "Carn Mouth", or "Corn Mouth". I like "Fingerbib" quite a lot, it for some reason reminds me of some futuristic Japanese action movie theme song. The beauty in this album is in it's subtle changes, though that is much more relevent in his "I Care Because You Do", not that that makes that one a better album, the truth is they are both quite good.

You will love it or hate it. This album doesn't admit indiference as a possible reaction. The only people that can give a ""0 to this album is those how really feel indiference when they hear it. If you hate it or love it, you should rate it whith a five, becasuse you are testing the incredible power of this album for create extreme emotions.

I really love it, is my favourite Aphex Twin album. One of the best Warp releases, and girl/boy dialog between beatbox & violins one of the gretest moments of the history of music.

Anyway, I can understand to those that hate this album (specially djs. This album is imposible to mix, but who said that electronic music is just for mix it?)

This album is seriously wonderful stuff. For those of you that say tracks like 'milkman' and 'beetles' are childish tunes you probably don't realise they're not actually part of the album. The last five tracks are from the Girl/Boy Ep, a decidely different piece or work, they got added when the US record company came to the conclusion that the original album was too short. Take that into consideration and Richard D James is a mighty fine listen.

There is a sound on this album that is absolutly beautiful, its a percusive hit going into a reverb. This is like the knot in a piece of wood, a focal point on an album that doesnt have any conventional time structure. I ve grown to like this short work more and more.

Well, well... This has to be the only album that I own, where I find every tracks good. And I own many albums. Richard D. James is a truly amazing artist and I think that his music is uniqe. If you are a fan of him and his music, then you won´t be disapointed by this album. My favourite tracks is "Fingerbib", "To cure a weakling child" and "Girl/Boy song".
P.S!
Did you know that he live in a old bank and that he own a tank and a submarine?!

This is a truly wonderous album that i will always hold in the highest esteem, every track on the UK edition is a classic. Girl/Boy song has to be one of his best tracks and makes fantastic use of stereo, it is the best of both Aphex worlds with its pretty strings and mangled hard to follow drumlines.
Why anyone that like rdj would think this album rubbish is beyond me, it is hard to choose but i would say this is my favourite even though the less timeless Drukqs is technically superior now.
People will look back at this album as visionary.

it's hard to say if this is his best work... because whenever i try to air preference, i just can't decide between this, ICBYD, Druqks, and countless eps... but needless to say, he is/it is: brilliant. I hate to sound so disgustingly subjective but i really feel that those who don't like this album just haven't heard it enough...

I found this record to be most engaging. He uses elements of non-repetition, but not in the same way Stockhausen does --- RdJ uses frameworks of measures and song structures to contain his works, whereas ol' Stocky is just plain all over the place (not that that is a bad thing).

He has a similar sense of humor perhaps like Frank Zappa (or Steve Vai, if you will). But, there is something definitely British about it.

The Australian version of the CD has the Girl/Boy EP on it, too, so, I suppose I am used to a longer format album than most people.