> These ambient pads were likely recorded with the Yamaha DX-100 or DX7, as these were the only polyphonic synths James mentioned owning at the time. He likely used the DX strings patches, as they have long attack and release times as well as mellow, sine-like oscillator sounds.
> These were likely recorded on the Roland SH-101, a revered analog monophonic synth from 1982.
So is this all speculation of RDJ's production methods or was this directly sourced based on what RDJ himself said?
RDJ is well known for bullshitting interviews on purpose.
Also of note, Selected Ambient Works Volume II. I used to mix ambient tapes from a variety of sources in the mid-90s, and this was always features somewhere. One good mix was Autechre's _VLetrmx21_ over Aphex's _Blur_. None of it is in sync, some of it's dissonant, but it works.
I miss 90s Ambient and IDM. Em:t label of was a top one. There was a sound to all of it, and it probably had to do with 99% being produced with outboard gear straight to tape. Everything now seems to be so over-produced and "perfect".
[edit: listening to AT stuff today, I recall MTV included an Aphex Twin song on their MTV Amp album, and there was one on the Pi soundtrack. That's where I learned that he did more stuff.]
Even if it was about SAW and not SAW2, I love that this article was posted on HN today.
SAW has some great tunes, but it's basically just a compilation of some of his better early tunes. SAW2 is a properly cohesive album, a milestone ambient album. Peaceful and spooky, just enough sourness and dissonance to keep coming back to since it was brand new in the mid 90s.
(omg _VLetrmx21_ is such a nostalgic tune.. thanks for the reminder)
Then he bought himself a Mac and made the Richard D James album, that was 1996(!)
Korg - Ikea, whatever.
I found this and posted it to HN a little while ago, and it goes more in depth about it. "Techno Counterpoint - Tracking in the Music of Aphex Twin" https://disis.music.vt.edu/eric/LyonPapers/AphexTwin/
Here's a fellow who smartly documented his work on doing Polynomial-C on an SH-101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFkDH8t1Htg
One of my favorite songs.
A lot of Richard's stuff is surprisingly simple upon deconstruction. But it's his creativity in that simplicity that is key.
I remember the d'oh a few decades ago when I realized his snare rushes are just 1/64th notes.
Feeling pretty old, thought I just saw this same article just a couple years ago. Turns out several outlets did a similar article for the 25th anniversary of Selected Ambient Works, so that was actually 5 years ago:
https://www.factmag.com/2017/02/12/paul-white-aphex-twin-sel...
https://www.thestudentplaylist.com/aphex-twin-selected-ambie...
Last time was recently, on a long transit ride through Toronto and it set the scene perfectly. I hesitate to say it’s a timeless piece of music (like a symphony) but it really does move me in the same ways.
You can also listen to it here through your browser if you don't have an account: https://www.mixcloud.com/deepspace5/aphex-twin-hearts-of-spa...
It really is timeless, relaxing music.
I dislike normal music but this game had a radio channel called "the journey". Still listen to it regularly at the gym.
Cassilda and Carcosa - https://open.spotify.com/album/5k8cHnULoBPJ7hlKWYchZG
RX-101 - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nxxFDcQjl85Vn3PSZs651
Sorry if this is annoying, I just really like Aphex Twin.
Daft Punk is doing something very different. It would be weird to drop "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" at a wedding. This is not a knock on Daft Punk--I think they're great. But occupy a different space altogether and happen to also make electronic music.
It requires some focus, but doesn't need a massive cultural decoder ring like many kinds of contemporary Western art music. (I mean the post-WWII music by classically trained composers.)
There are still some tracks that are impenetrable, but I've been enjoy this album and the works of Squarepusher a lot. Squarepusher has such a wide range of sounds it might be a better gateway drug. I love the unapologetic electronic, artificial, synthetic feel of these two artists.
These were my ways into the genre:
- Aphex Twin - T69 Collapse (https://youtu.be/SqayDnQ2wmw) (as someone said "it's like jacking into cyberspace, but the RAR is corrupted")
- This album
- Squarepusher - Terminal Slam (https://youtu.be/GlhV-OKHecI)
- Squarepusher - Hello Everything (album)
In general many genres outside of pop are an acquired taste. If they were easy to get into, they would be called pop. You just need to find a way in, even if you decide it's not for you.
Ambient music in harmonics or patterns is a lot more abstract and different then pop, so to the untrained ear it looks more generally like "static noise" and boring. Trained ears you can for example take notice of evolving patterns (albeit their usually slow evolution, seemingly repetitive). And it's not only about the stuff you're hearing but also about what could be and what I call the negative space in-between (sorta like the counterpoint in classical music).
It's the same phenomenon as to why you'd like more songs on a particular genre you're accustomed to like Pop, then to something different in patterns like Metal.
I started loving his music after I noticed how much care goes into each track, and the wide array of technique he employs.
Xtal, Ziggomatic 17, Fenix Funk 5, Mookid, 4, T69 Collapse… these tracks sonically have little in common with each other, except that they all sound vaguely “Aphexy” as a result of his trademark playfulness and high quality of polish.
aphex twin is probably my all time favorite artist but i don't really care for the usual suspects that people tend to lump together with him (autechre, venetian snares). the reason is that he is an artist with total mastery of rhythm and electronic music production, and he PLAYS with it and has FUN.
the only other artist i've heard that has a similar playful mastery is J-Lin, and it's no surprise that richard is a fan
But really, as others have pointed out, Daft Punk and Aphex Twin are different genres. It's like trying to compare Metallica with The Ramones. To an extremely untrained ear they might seem similar but they really aren't.
Daft Punk: bangers
They're both great, but for totally different reasons.
He's on another world, imo.
Although I don't understand the comparison - from my point of view comparing Aphex Twin to Daft Punk is like comparing Aphex Twin to George Strait.
People like what they like and are interested in what they're interested in.
A thousand people could post intellectual insights into their personal preferences but a thousand more could cite the exact same arguments as reasons why they don't like the same music. It's just part of the colourful tapestry of human culture.
But one can seek to understand the aesthetics of something none the less.
lots of different niche genres, but they all sound like him. you hear an AFX some and you're like, yep, that's RDJ."
I guess different strokes for different folks…