Top 10 Aphex Twin Tracks
Mar 15 '01
The Bottom Line A talented and innovative musician, Aphex Twin composes intelligent electronica music for the thinking listener.
Richard James aka Aphex Twin (plus other aka's) is one of the most prolific, innovative, and talented musicians today. He ranges the musical gamut from the angriest, evil tracks (Come to Daddy) to quiet, gentle, and introspective.
James tweaks his own digital instruments, mixes it with homemade ones and creates new sounds. He then orchestrates these sounds to form some of the most mesmerizing, soulful, and sometimes disturbing music I’ve encountered.
A very interesting artist, James’ music can be scary and beautiful, bleak and wonderful. He’s composed so many tracks, from ambient to industrial, that I will pick the one’s I like the most. If you like electronic and are open to experimental music, give Aphex Twin a try. One word of caution, some of his songs stick in my head and haunt my dreams.
Windowlicker
This one has been a soundtrack for many of my dreams (nightmares), so I stopped listening to it – until now. The video for this song is even creepy. He’s dressed like a pimp (in contrast to his small, white demeanor) riding in a limo with some bikini clad, rotund black women. Very strange. The track uses samples of different voices to make its dark melody while a twisted drum kit creates the beats.
Girl Boy Song
This track incorporates opposites as the title implies. A light, airy violin melody softly floats around an erratic array of furious beats. The use of such different elements actually works, creating a track that is calm, wild, and musically apt simultaneously.
Nannou
Do you remember those wind-up trinkets that play a tune? If you look inside to see what is making the music, it’s a coil with protruding knobs that hit copper bands. That’s what this song sounds like, except he seems to have made an orchestra out of his coil. Nannou is a lovely song, quiet and playful but with an underlying exoticness and depth.
Outside Kick A$$ Violin Solo
An Italian opera-like violin dramatically wails along with a ringing breakbeat and simple piano chord.
Rare Duet with Robert Miles
Combines Miles’ trancey piano introspection with James’ eccentric rhythms. Each layer of sound flows and interacts to build a full and satisfying track.
We are Reasonable People (featuring Squarepusher)
Squarepusher is another artist who pushes the musical envelope by trying to create new sounds. This track combines a jagged drum n bass with a dark synth melody.
Alberto Balsalm
My favorite Aphex Twin track. Simple, moody, sad yet hopeful. From time to time, a heavy bang like a door slamming juts in (scaring my boyfriend, hah!). This song just cradles my brain without being too soft and has enough of a beat to keep its edginess from dissipating.
Come to Daddy
Disturbing, industrial rage scratches along with heavy drum n bass. The sampling of “I want your soul” and title frightens me, but in a good way. A hollow, continuous scream peaks the song to horrific heights. Some cool electronic sound bytes gnaw their way through the drum n bass
Maximum Electronica
Mature, intelligent, and ethereal trance music. Has a slight distortion to the smooth trance and solid beat, adding a calculated flaw to this enchanting track.
Powerpill Pacman
This is an old rave classic from the early 90’s. It can be argued competently that this is not one of James’ best song, but I think it showcases James’ Atari upbringing that may have led to his obsession with electronic sounds, plus it was fun for awhile at some raves.
I did leave out James' ambient tracks done under the name Caustic Window. Perhaps that will be another list.
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