Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In A Room7 F760

Poor pressing quality, as per usual via Optimal. A lot of stitching on my copy, very audible. I really wish Warp would find a new pressing plant (they've had a longstanding relationship with Optimal, which produces the worst pressings currently), everytime I buy something from them against my better judgement there is some significant audible QC related issue (scratches, deep scuffs, non-fill, stitching). Really frustrating.

Trying my luck on a replacement

My copy had a blue hype sticker on the sleeve. Some in the store did not.

My copy had a blue hype sticker on the sleeve. Some in the store did not.

I’m really glad we got this new double single by Aphex Twin. I pre-ordered it off his website in July, and he granted us the great website exclusive track ‘m12 6 omc zeq’! My favourite track on this record is ‘in a room7 F760’. All tracks are great, unfortunately this is pretty short, so I’d recommend looking at Collapse EP (which I also have) or his user18081971 account on SoundCloud.

I’m really happy with the record! It sounds great and the foldable cover together with the record sleeve and the albumcover are interactive with an AR-app. Really fun to try.

If you buy this record, I’d recommend to keep the record in a plastic protection sleeve, because the record sleeve falls out of the foldable cover, since there’s nothing down there to hold the sleeve in place. And if you don’t like the fact of being it too short, switching to 33 RPM will give you a few extra minutes and it still sounds great :).

For me at least, this is the best music he’s released in a while. There’s a melancholy present in the title track which makes more sense given the video. It also takes me back to what first resonated 30 years ago (yikes!)

Anyhow, it’s very well mastered - drum and bass dynamics come alive on a nice system and I immediately preferred it to the digital version. The pressing is also excellent: flat vinyl and near absent surface noise.

Coupled with the elaborate packaging and marketing tricks you have a textbook Aphex release. Even if this is part of a last ditch effort to harvest cash before global collapse, I for one am grateful he still bothers :)

34.99 Canadian retail for an EP that is what, like 25 minutes? Lol

Quite amusing to see all these people around here whining like spoiled little kids everytime there is a new RDJ release...
A couple of thoughts to get it straight:

I wasn't around - at least as an adult - by the time RDJ was releasing Donkey Rhubarb or Windowlicker, but I have the impression that the criteria of the time were quite different and much more substancial (i.e. grown-up) as least judging by what was written at the time.
As a matter of fact shortness (subjective?) is so empty as an argument that it should rather be classified a non-argument: a full length album can feel empty if it is uninspired and forced, while a 2 track EP straight out of the heart and natural can be satisfying as a never-ending meal.
These 4 tracks are filled with enough ideas and sounds that will keep the most attentive and curious listener satisfied for years (or centuries? What is time anyway... well I digress)
And take a look at the vinyl package, you can actually fold it out, it's fun ! And if you can afford to buy an extra one and fold it out, you get a cube... a house for your pet !

And if you all pay close attention you will realize that RDJ is actually releasing music non stop, albeit not always officially: for instance if you have bought this EP through the official store, while I write these words, you actually have 5 tracks plus 4 differently mastered versions, and an ambient version was shared by RDJ through a google drive folder. Indeed RDJ actually keeps adding tracks for free on the webstore which you can get, provided you have bought it once. Almost simultaneously to the release, 3 tracks were published on his soundcloud which are equally as tasty (taste buds functionning on your side?)

This is without counting all the unreleased tracks you can actually listen for free on the web from the soundcloud dump or live performances, and mind you that in 2023 the audio quality can get to be pretty good and enjoyable from time to time.

So straight up and enjoy life (or first get one) and be happy there are still free spirited people around like RDJ unleashing their creativity and sharing it with others, in a world that is slowly becoming a mental prison.
And if you don't like the music at least write something worth the intellectual effort of reading it and the bandwidth involved.

[Aphex Twin grin]

Would appreciate a heads up of any further clear pressing available in uk please.

My two cents upon listening- think I like the A side at 33 RPM better, and the B side sounds better to me at 45 RPM. My subjective opinion which can be taken with as many grains of salt as needed. I also appreciated this disc's ability to startle me with an unexpected sound occasionally, even though the vibe here is fairly mellow.

Solid EP not impressed by the gimmicky sleeve words word