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Track Listings
| 1. 4 |
| 2. Cornish acid |
| 3. Peek 824545201 |
| 4. Fingerbib |
| 5. Corn mouth |
| 6. To cure a weakling child |
| 7. Goon gumpas |
| 8. Yellow calx |
| 9. Girl/boy song |
| 10. Logon Rock Witch |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
A native of Cornwall, Richard James is obsessed with the mechanics of music making: As a kid, he took apart and reassembled the living room piano. Under the names Aphex Twin, Polygon Window, AFX and other aliases too numerous to mention, he showed that he could make entire tracks with the sounds produced by tapping on a Coke can. Like the indie rockers of yore, he revels in his marginality because of the creative freedom it gives him. None of his recordings have captured the competing impulses to lull you to sleep and blast out your eardrums as well as Richard D. James, his third and best album. As the title indicates, James has turned inward for inspiration, painting aural pictures of real and imagined scenes from his west country childhood. "Goongumpas" is a fanciful, playful tune that wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. As his adventures with the family upright indicate, James was a bit of a devil even as a child. "Beetles" is the sound of a boy frying bugs on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass and "To Cure A Weakling Child" shows flashes of the sort of sadism found only on primary school playgrounds. If you still doubt that young Richard developed early on, the romantic Nino Rota-style strings on "Girl/Boy Song" are just made for passionate seductions, and the tune appears in three mixes, each one hot and hornier than the one before. The raucous undercurrents of even his calmest tunes and the sources of many of his most common sounds are what link James to the rock tradition. With Richard D. James, the artist solidifies his position as an electronic music mastermind who has earned a spot beside such well-respected innovators--whether or not he's destined for stardom. --Jim Derogatis
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was the first 'Aphex' album I ever bought and it led me to seeking out every piece of sound created by the man that I could get my hands on. The first few listens caused me alot of confusion and brow lowering I must admit but one thing it wasnt was boring or unoriginal, quite the contrary.
The melodies and strings are so emotional and catchy yet the beats are a jungle of mashed up beats and mettalic futuristic sounds. Ive been listening to this album almost every day for the past 6 years as I find it very theraputic, despite all the noise! I listen to it whenever I feel down or even angry.
My mates hate it and think its just simplistic noise but it is so deep and beautiful I cant descibe it.
My favourite album of all time without doubt.
The melodies and strings are so emotional and catchy yet the beats are a jungle of mashed up beats and mettalic futuristic sounds. Ive been listening to this album almost every day for the past 6 years as I find it very theraputic, despite all the noise! I listen to it whenever I feel down or even angry.
My mates hate it and think its just simplistic noise but it is so deep and beautiful I cant descibe it.
My favourite album of all time without doubt.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By D. Newton
Format:Audio CD
Don't be fooled by the evil grin on Mr James's face on the cover of this CD; the `Richard D James' album is alive with mischievous melody, warmth and nostalgia.
Sure, the accustomed manic, machine-gun beats, pulsating programming and breakneck changes of pace are very much in evidence, but behind this front are some truly lovely synth washes, strings and melodic threads which dance merrily in and out of the maelstrom of sound.
The whole record, although barely over half an hour long, is packed with variety. Just when you think you have got the measure of the thing with the first four tracks James pulversises you with intense beats at the end of `Corn Mouth'. This is brilliantly followed up with the spooky child-like vocal samples on `To.Kill A Weakling Child' which are buried in sound as the track progresses. Then comes arguably the most remarkable track on the record and the only beat-free one,`Goon Gumpas', whose gorgeous string and synth melody unexpectedly conjures up images of pastoral bliss.
`Girl/Boy Song' is perhaps the highlight of the album, though, combining in its melody and rhythm all that has gone so well before. The album's longest track, it builds superbly to a brilliantly melodic climax.
This is hardly restful music but is constantly challenging and enjoyable. The nostalgic atmosphere (I swear there are some ZX Spectrum loader sounds on at least two tracks) is so different to label mates Boards of Canada but no less potent. A remarkable achievement.
Sure, the accustomed manic, machine-gun beats, pulsating programming and breakneck changes of pace are very much in evidence, but behind this front are some truly lovely synth washes, strings and melodic threads which dance merrily in and out of the maelstrom of sound.
The whole record, although barely over half an hour long, is packed with variety. Just when you think you have got the measure of the thing with the first four tracks James pulversises you with intense beats at the end of `Corn Mouth'. This is brilliantly followed up with the spooky child-like vocal samples on `To.Kill A Weakling Child' which are buried in sound as the track progresses. Then comes arguably the most remarkable track on the record and the only beat-free one,`Goon Gumpas', whose gorgeous string and synth melody unexpectedly conjures up images of pastoral bliss.
`Girl/Boy Song' is perhaps the highlight of the album, though, combining in its melody and rhythm all that has gone so well before. The album's longest track, it builds superbly to a brilliantly melodic climax.
This is hardly restful music but is constantly challenging and enjoyable. The nostalgic atmosphere (I swear there are some ZX Spectrum loader sounds on at least two tracks) is so different to label mates Boards of Canada but no less potent. A remarkable achievement.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
"Richard D James" by Aphex Twin in my humble opinion is a truly complete work of art. Although there are no tracks here that could sit comfortably in todays music chart, songs like "4," "Cornish Acid" and "Girl/Boy Song" really have to be heard to be believed. Richard utilises alien soundscapes and simplistic, yet at the same time utterly complex drum patterns to confuse and coax the listener into a false state of security. His music could be criticised for being too simple to create, my friends comment being "An 8 year old could write this," but that would be completely beside the point, an 8 year old didn't write it, it was created by an intelligent and rhythmically conscious musician. This goes to show that music doesn't necessarily have to be infinately over-written or complicated to produce the mood or tension that was strived for in the first place.
This, I believe is the very concept behind Aphex Twin and his work, he shows us that sound IS music, rather than music being sound and rather than an album just being a collection of different melodies, it takes the listener on a journey of discovery and bewilderment. Calm >>>> Chaos >>>> Paranoia >>>> Ultimate Enlightenment. This may sound intolerably pretentious but what you're given isn't always what you get.
There is one drawback however, it's too short!!! :(
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
From the opening strings and ridicuosly complex yet simple drum machine loops and beats you know this is going to be a special musical journey. This is album has it all, Richard D James, or Aphex Twin as most people will know him as is perhaps one of the most ground breaking artists of recent times. His electronic beats, blips and melodic chords come together in a symphony never heard before....The best aphex twin album out there....... oh yeah, and if you are looking at either selected ambient works albums (also by Aphex Twin), go for number 2 for sure.
Break the monotony in music of recent times, and expand the mind and ears, BUY THIS ALBUM!
Break the monotony in music of recent times, and expand the mind and ears, BUY THIS ALBUM!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By TheReader
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an album i'v wanted for some time. On purchasing it i'd say i have mixed feelings towards it. There are some great tracks on here but the album almost seams to be lacking a theme or any kind of consistancy. Owning some of his earlier EP's i found i owned some of the tracks already. Over all i prefered the "I care Because You Do" album that came before but this is a great album for a fan of the genius that is Richard D. James.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is quite unlike much of Mr James' music, simply put this album could be classed as a modern day piece of classical music!
I love it!
I love it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Aphex twin has come up trumps again, giving the world his new album. Right from the start, you get the feeling of what its about. 4 brings you into the world of Richard D. James and graphically tells what to expect. He drawns the line beautifully between varied songs, that confuse the litsener and repetiveness that bores them. Each song has the re-occuring theme, but is never the same as the last. Richard draws upon a classical theme, with big string parts, but adds a fast drum and bass style snare, but it never sounds that the two are forced upon each other. the strings are written for the snare, and vica-verca. Overall, a stunning album that i am happy to recomend to anyone.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
His Best Album
I know what your thinking, if this is the great one's best album's then why just the 4/5 rating?
Pretty Simple Explanation really, the album's he releases are simply... Read more
Pretty Simple Explanation really, the album's he releases are simply... Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2007 by Quemeelsol
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tip-Top Electronica
Aphex Twin is my favorite electronic musician. And this is my favorite Aphex Twin album. It's so glorious that words aren't good enough to describe it. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2007 by Steven M. Quinn
5.0 out of 5 stars
D-d-d-drum and baaasss-s-s-s?
There are two types of people who listen to music - those who appreciate tunes, and those who look upon it as a medium to express talent and emotion in whatever way the musician... Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2003 by michael_m
2.0 out of 5 stars
I'm the odd one out...
...because I can't appreciate this album as much as his others. It's over before you have time to get into it, and upon repeat listens it seems to do very little but show off. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2002 by Mr. R. Baker
4.0 out of 5 stars
20lb. sledgehammer of musical genious.
First and formost Richard D. James is a mathematics and sound genious. The musical master mind calling himself "Aphex Twin" is truely straight out of left-field. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars
The future of pop music
It is easy to be put off by the mere thought of abstract electronica, but here, Aphex dispels any myths that it is anal and obtuse. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2002 by sneaker_pimp@chilledout.co.uk
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