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 (nobody)...and 217 guests Last 5 registered Oplandisks nothingstar N_loop yipe foxtrotromeo Browse members... |
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ADVERTISEMENT Please login so that we can connect you to your favorites. Richard James (a k a Aphex Twin, AFX, Polygon Window, the Dice Man) says he crafts techno symphonies in his head while he sleeps, but judging from the unsettling nature of many of his songs, it appears he doesn't slumber too peacefully. Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Vol. II is the two-disc follow-up to the import-only Selected Ambient Works 85-92, the album that established the Cornwall, England, native as the pioneer of ambient techno, a musical style that converts the energized electrobeats and keyboard surges of dance-floor techno into slower, more tranquil sound washes. While many of his disciples have done little more than propel New Age atmospheres into the computer age, producing comforting but often emotionless elevator music, James has used the medium to confront his shadowy demons, exploring realms of spooky, textured sound. On Vol. II, James turns away from the glut of soulless techno by stripping away its base properties, focusing more intently on mood than on rhythm and melody. Most of the songs rely on eerie synth effects layered within sparsely repeated or sustained notes and blips that pulse like distant stars. Few use beats. Indeed, it's the absence of beats that makes the music so strange and haunting, and when beats do surface, they serve to accent a tone rather than sustain a tempo. Drawing inspiration from the early ambient work of Brian Eno and the minimalism of John Cage, James has created a riveting, experimental record that demands listener interaction. Each of the 23 untitled songs outline such troubled emotions as melancholy, fear and confusion, but the music is too inchoate to paint a full picture. Many of the tracks are so subdued that any incidental noises that drift into earshot (car horns, bird song, chatter) become unconsciously integrated into the mix, and the sound effects are so cryptic that like a Rorschach test, interpretations a |
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are entirely subjective. With a bit of imagination, the opening song could evoke a gurgling baby on a beach as the tide comes in, while the 22nd track might suggest a broken jack-in-the-box that opens to reveal a hideous, laughing troll. Surreal, otherworldly and occasionally nightmarish, Selected Ambient Works Vol. II provides a visionary perspective on ambient electronic music. Close your eyes, drift to sleep, start to scream. (RS 685) JON WIEDERHORN |
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Hmmm...that's a very good review. |
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and no, i will not login so you can connect to my favorites. |
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sounds accurate to me... |
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I don't think it's THAT scary... just subtlely disturbing... I don't want to SCREAM or anything... just sleep with one eye open and lock the door! |
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I find overall SAWII to be very disturbing... not very relaxing at all... however, SAW85-92 is VERY relaxing... with the exception of Green Calx, and maybe Hedphelym (which is very errie) is very nice and relaxing... |
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prolly my fave from SAW2 is trac 8 |
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i agree. 85-92 is relaxing, comforting. doesnt evoke any emotions of unease in me. SAW II on the other hand, that's a different story. i love both albums. |
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SAW85-92 sounds so retro, it's awesome!!! :) |
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saw 2 produces feelings that cannot be explained. thats all i have to say about that |
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its too fucking expensive, i haven't heard it yet, only have Cliffs on mp3 |
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I love the song Litchen on SAW II. I can visuale some pristine ocean scene with it :) Mmm...I love ocean / shores. Especially those of Nova Scotia. That's on the very east coast of Canada...very Irish-based communites and its just wicked sweet. |
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you don't know what you're missing ms. Hayek. |
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I love Rhubarb, and Cliffs, and Lichen, and Tree, and Blue Calx... I listened to Rhubarb one foggy day while driving, and my goodness, it fit the whole mood so well... Tree is very scary I find... I can picture myself being taken away by aliens... |
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track 3 of disc 1, whatever it's called, is amazing! put it on repeat before going to sleep, youll fall asleep in no time! anyone recommend any similar sounding tracks? |
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i thought that review sucked. totally shallow and unrevealing. |
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i had some troubles getting into sawII at first, much like i had troubles getting into confield...but when i did it was a real mindblow. |
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WHOA! Long post at the start there. (i wonder if they use MySQL here) *KABOOOM* meow |
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I like that rewiew. but he focues to much on the haunting aspect. some of them are pretty happy i think. track 5 from disc 2? i like that song a lot. so simple, yet so good. |
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i like disc 1 a lot better than the 2nd one =( |
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I am starting to enjoy SAW2 now. I brought it and couldnt really get into it, so i gave it to my dad for christmas and treated myself to SAW1. But now i can stop nicking it off him and listening to it because its amazing. |
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Listen to Parallel Stripes, it makes your head vibrate... Wonderful album BTW |
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yeah same here, although I'm still having trouble getting into it... |
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a decent review indeed |
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