This album is a great nod toward John Cage -- inventor of the Prepared Piano. for those of you not in the know already, a prepared piano is when you take a normal piano and stick a bunch of stuff between the strings -- bolts, bits of wood, erasers -- anything to make it give you a range of percussive and interesting sounds.

I am surprised no-one has commented on Steve Reich yet.
His earliest pieces "Come Out" and "It's Gonna Rain" were some of the earliest uses of tape loops in experiemntal music. They are probably the earliest releases to be comprised entirely of the spokem word cut-up and looped.

His other style of compositions -- instrumental -- is a whole other thing. Take "Six Pianos" for example. At any given time, 4 pianists are all playing very similar parts. Progressively, one part changes just a few notes here and there, then another changes. What you have is a slow metamorphosis of notes in a very solidly repeating piece. It is very hypnotic.

A warm collection of synthetic textures. If I recall correctly, there are no drums anywhere on the album. Some synth sequences are used (that establish a driving rhythm), but, it's more of a "true ambient" album. If I had to call one album as demonstrating a Brian Eno influence, this would be it. But, despite that, it is it's own thing. Aphex uses his own style of chord progressions (more concrete evidence of these appear in Drukqs).

I think Nannou is an amazing composition. It sounds like a composed piece of music, as opposed to "letting the machines run". I've read about Richard's music composition software that he wrote, and some things on R.D.James album is obviously using that. This is a whole other level of some craftsmanship.

Could someone please email me a scan of the [equation]. It reminds me of a digital filter algorithm, but, I don't think it is one.

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.