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Universal Indicator HELP!
 

The Spikee Dragon from Dragonsville on 2002-01-07 22:06 [#00067019]



Can any of you guys help? I have a copy of UI Red (and soon
blue) However, I get told so many storys I don't know what
to think anymore. Is the whole thing by Richard D James? or
only three tracks? My copy has a red middle with 'The Aphex
Twin' stamped on the label. Can anyone e-mail me and clear
my mind as to witch thay think is true? another thing, I can
see track 'B2' but can hear nothing? bleh. - Spikee@nme.com


 

Jimmy from DE on 2002-01-08 00:00 [#00067066]



b2 was just low hissing
i think the majority is aphex
and he added 3 tracks on green or something

 

dosle from technodump.com on 2002-01-08 00:02 [#00067068]



here it is yet again

Aside from Rephlex CAT.002 (2x 7”), the Universal
Indicator series has been the subject of much discussion by
Aphex trainspotters since the first 12”’s appeared.

To cut to the chase, much of the material is without doubt
Mike Dred aka the Kozmik Kommando. He is credited with the
work on the Blue TB-303 12” (In the etchings) and one of
the tracks appears on the later CAT.010 KK compilation
“Freaquenseize”, but this time titled
(“Thoughts.of.you”).

MC-202 (Yellow in the UI series) is 100% Dred material. The
rumour suggesting that each of SH-101 records was created by
a different artist can fairly quickly be quoshed ; most of
it is Kozmik Kommando.

The Red, Blue and Green EP’s production assistance and
(possible) contributions by persons other than Dred, are of
more significance. It is near-definite that Richard James
(aka Aphex Twin) helped produce much of the UI series, and
the suggestion of RDJ throwing in ideas or sounds himself is
not unreasonable.

Where the UI myth does start to get complicated, is with the
rumours of tracks by Grant Wilson-Claridge (Rephlex
co-founder with RDJ) and the nowhere-else-mentioned Martin
Tressider. However, just recently a source very close to
Rephlex has confirmed that neither Grant or Tressider were
involved. One interesting (but previously confusing) fact is
that Grant did at one time own much of the entire classic
Roland x0x series (SH-101, MC-202, TB-303, TR-606, TR-808
etc..). It’s also known he regularly lent out bits of this
to other artists.

The other point of note is that these (TR-606 and TB-303)
were quite probably the first ever Rephlex releases -
especially due to the more “down to earth” production
quality on the records (eg: hand-stamping the sleeves). They
quite probably predate CAT.001 (Brad Stryder, aka RDJ) due
to production quality, too - ultimately this is unconfirmed,
though the 606 run-out etchings do mention 1989!

UI Red “TR-606”

Vinyl ;
Standard Black vinyl.

Outer sleeve ;
Plain Bright-Red shiney 12” sleeve with center circle cut
out of one side. No markings.

Inner sleeve ;
Completely blank sleeve in my version.

Vinyl Stickers ;
Plain Red both sides, no markings - though faint radial
marks (like record grooves) are visible on the labels
themselves.

Side A tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
4m,21s
4m,16s
3m,06s
4m,10s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “TR 606 - SIDE A1 MADE
AT LLANERLOG, UK -UNDILUTED- A PORKY PRIME CUT.”

Side B tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
1) 2m,48s
2) 4m,28s
2b) **STRING GLITCH**
3) 4m,20s
3m,28s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “TR 606 SIDE ONE-1 P+C
1989 LTD 1000 -DYNAMIC- A PORKY PRIME CUT.”

Trainspotter Comments ;
The TR-606 EP is interesting - both in track content and
possible authors. With 8 tracks (not counting the String
glitch) there is more to be had buying a UI Red than a UI
Blue - and especially if you’re an Aphex trainspotter.

If correct, UI Red is limited to only 1,000 copies ever -
and also originates from the other side of the 90’s ; 1989
- possibly making it the oldest ‘official’ Rephlex
release known. However, the fact that UI Blue is dated 1992
- technically a 3 year gap between the 2 EP’s - and the
minor style difference between the tracks on each - suggests
that in fact the years are intended publishing dates and not
accurate records for track creation (Rephlex were
notoriously, but understandably pisspoor when it came to
organisation in the early days).

Track1) - a straight Kozmik Kommando track with no frills.

Track2) has a small, faint “pad” glitch 2 seconds before
it starts, and then it turns into what sounds like standard
KK product. However, the track builds into either
higher-quality KK material, or is the work of someone else.
I would air on the side of high-qual KK material myself.

Track3) Standard KK fare ; very similar to UI Blue
material.

Track4) Again, fairly obviously KK.

Track5) This track starts with an Aphex-style intro (a 5
second faint rasp) then launches into a high-quality KK
style Acid track. Probably Mike Dred.

Track6) Again, standard KK material.

Track6b) **STRING GLITCH** - This is a 1.5 second pad chord,
very reminiscent of Aphex material (particularly the “i”
track on the “Selected Ambient Works” album). Quite
probably the only chord on the entire UI Red/Blue EP’s!
This could quite easily be Mike Dred, but does suggest
possible RDJ intervention or him just messing about.

Track7) Standard KK material.

Track8) The most significant track on either UI Red or Blue
- mainly because of it’s inclusion on the Sire Records
Amworks2 promo CD “Words & Music” (Track 3). The track
is used as background music for Richard James talking about
Sire. This might suggest the track is actually RDJ material,
but it’s also possible that it is used to refer to
Rephlex, as Richard talks about “having total control of
his own label” on Track3 of the Sire CD. It’s also
easily the best track on either UI Red or Blue in this
authors humble opinion.

UI Blue “TB-303”

Outer sleeve ;
Plain Bright-Blue shiney 12” sleeve with center circle cut
out of one side. No markings.

Inner sleeve ;
Blue faded stamp on one side of inner sleeve reads -

Universal
Indicator
EP

INNOvAtiONs In
THE DyNAmiCS
OF aCid

Blue faded stamp on other side of inner sleeve reads -

PO BOX 2676
LONDON n11 1az

Vinyl ;
Standard Black vinyl.

Vinyl Stickers ;
Plain Blue both sides, no markings - again, faint radial
marks (like record grooves) are visible on the labels
themselves.

Side A tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
6m,57s
6m,23s
3m,02s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “P + C 1992 TB 303 -
Side One 1 PR-M Thanks to RePhleX and PROBE A PORKY PRIME
CUT”

Side B tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
6m, 21s
5m, 10s
4m, 16s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “TB 303 Side A1 MADE AT
LLANERLOG, UK PR-M Porky THE KOMMANDO HAS RETURNED”

Trainspotter Comments ;
Though apparently made at Llanerlog (RDJ’s old studio in
Lanner, nr. Redruth Cornwall) the 6 tracks on TB-303 are
undoubtedly pure Kozmik Kommando. It’s quite likely RDJ
helped produce the EP, explaining the Llanerlog reference.
There is absolutely nothing within the 6 tracks to suggest
anything other than being the work of Mike Dred (The Kozmik
Kommando) - this is pure Acid with no frills, strings or
deviation from 4/4 beats or the classic Roland gear origin.

Track 4) is definitely Kozmik Kommando ; appearing on
Rephlex CAT.010, “Freaquenseize” CD#1 Track 6
“Thoughts.of.you”.

UI Green “SH-101”

Description ;
3 x Vinyl pack, [1x Green 7” , 1x Green 10” , 1x Green
12”].

Comes with Plastic Rephlex carrier bag (which oddly isn’t
large enough to fit the 12” in its clear plastic sleeve).
The carrier bag is white with a large dark green print of a
map of Cornwall, with insert of a Japanese style manga
robot, the Universal Indicator and Rephlex logo.
Text on bag ;
UNIVERSAL INDICATOR SERIES:
#4. SH-101 (green) 12”/10”/7”
(+ Rephlex Logo and usual Mail order/demo information)

Vinyl ;
Bright green vinyl (all records).

Sleeves ;
Each size vinyl comes in it’s own size clear plastic
sleeve.

12”
Vinyl Stickers ;
Plain Green both sides, no markings - though as TR606 and
TB303, faint radial marks (like record grooves) are visible
on the labels themselves. The Green stickers perfectly match
the colour of the Vinyl dye.

Side A tracks (Play speed = 45 rpm) ;
1) 10m,16s
2) 2m,07s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “SH-101- UI EP A PORKY
PRIME CUT”

Side B tracks (Play speed = 45 rpm) ;
1) 6m,39s
2) 6m,03s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “SH-101- KI EP-Ki
PORKY”

10”
Vinyl Stickers ;
Plain Green both sides, no markings - though as TR606 and
TB303, faint radial marks (like record grooves) are visible
on the labels themselves. The Green stickers perfectly match
the colour of the Vinyl dye.

Side A track (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
Track1) 7m,58s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “SH 101-10_A1 A PORKY
PRIME CUT”

Side B tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm) ;
Track2) 5m,42s
Track3) 5m,10s
Run-out groove inscription reads ; “SH-101-C1”

7”
Vinyl Stickers ;
Plain Green both sides, no markings - though as TR606 and
TB303, faint radial marks (like record grooves) are visible
on the labels themselves. The Green stickers perfectly match
the colour of the Vinyl dye.

Side A track (Play speed = 45 rpm) ;
Track1) 2m,53s
Run-out groove inscription reads; “SH-101-I1 A PORKY PRIME
CUT”

Side B track (Play speed = 45 rpm);
Track1) 3m, 52s
Run-out groove inscription reads; “SH-101 D1”

Trainspotter Comments;
SH-101 is truly a collector’s item. I am unaware of the
number pressed (though it’s surely highly limited) but the
unique 12”/10”/7” combination alone warrants serious
consideration by any electronic record collector. The
artistes possibly responsible for the tracks on the 3-record
set is also worthy of debate. Without doubt, Mike Dred (the
Kozmik Kommando) is responsible for most of the tracks
contained herein - but as with UI TR-606, the possible
production/contributions of other Rephlex artists may be
evident on certain tracks.

Interesting too is the text on the bag, which reads “#4.
SH-101 (green) 12”/10”/7” ”, suggesting this release
POSTdates the Universal Indicator YELLOW 12”, but as far
as I am aware - this is incorrect; Yellow was the most
recent in the U.I. series.

12”
Track1) Higher quality KK material.

Track2) An interesting “dry” drums track with fairly
traditional rock-style bassline and fills. Not in any way
similar to any other KK material released.

Track3) Possibly KK material, though does have Aphex-style
haunting strings around the halfway point. The 303 stabs and
hihat set are also reminiscent of the RDJ-created ‘Gak’
EP [Warp], but this is simply a comparison and not a
suitably definitive one at that. A more interesting
similarity is the distorted 606 (?) snare used with solidity
in this track very similar in sound and use to the UT1-dot
track on RDJ’s ‘Surfing on Sine Waves’ LP [Warp]. In
fact, these 2 tracks deserve closer comparison.

Track4) Unremarkable KK material.

10”
Track1) Unremarkable KK material.

Track2) A superb, near-gabba, distorted kick track. Could be
high-quality KK material.

Track3) High-speed KK material, basic strings and all.

7”
Track1) Fairly chunky, distorted, 4/4 beat KK material.

Track2) An interesting ambient drone track of debatable
origin (the Kozmik Kommando has never released any other
ambient drone tracks). Though that said, it is rather pants
and in no-way reflects Aphex-quality ambient material.
Probably Dred (incidentally, Track1 on SideB of the 12”
has identically-sounding drone sounds at the start).

UI Yellow “MC-202”

Outer sleeve;
Medium Bright-Yellow, plain shiny sleeve with center circle
cut out of one side. No markings.

Inner sleeve;
Standard white sleeve, no markings.

Vinyl;
Standard Black vinyl.

Side A tracks (Play speed = 45 rpm);
Track1)
Track2)
Run-out groove inscription reads; “MC 202-01 A PORKY PRIME
CUT PR-M DRUM AND BASS IS JUST A WASTE”
Vinyl Sticker (plain yellow with white text) reads; “THE
KOZMIK KOMMANDO 1993: ALL TRACKS RECORDED AT ACID LAB,
UK”

Side B tracks (Play speed = 33 1/3 rpm!!);
Track1)
Track2)
Track3)
Run-out groove inscription reads; “MC 202-D1 PR-M
Porky”
Vinyl Sticker; a 2-tone Yellow/White print of the A303 road
sign + Motorway.

Trainspotter Comments;
Kozmik Kommando through and through - and this time it’s
official.

Much smoother Acid than the previous Red, Blue and Green
releases, this is still fairly average 303/606/909 KK
material. SideA Track2 is the best of the 5 tracks, closely
followed by the final ‘air-raid’ pad track. Not much of
a collectors item IMHO, but to complete a UI series
collection it is of course essential.

Final Comments;
Of interest also is the rumour that the next in the U.I.
series will be provided by Tom Jenkinson, aka Squarepusher -
this rumour is somewhat old, however - and yet to be
confirmed.

A Universal Indicator compilation is also planned, and will
be a first for the material on CD - but you’ll have to
wait and see if this ever materializes…

I must also apologize to Mike Dred if he reads this - some
of the comments are a little harsh. Sorry Mike - we all love
+ respect you for your Rephlex contributions.



 

Caserole Joe the Chubby from mpls on 2002-01-08 05:49 [#00067177]



Holy shit.

Anyway, Isn't there a CD compilation of the UI series
available from reflex? Is it something worthy of purchase?
As this stuff comes from the early days I wonder if any of
it is really that good. The comments here don't sound too
impressive.


 

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