Heās had four distinct phases, hereās what Iād recommend you check out from each. I like pretty much everything.
1st: Early stuff, ambient and early techno tracks: Selected ambient works 85-92 & Classics.
2nd: Evolved drums: Crazy drum patterns and wistful melodies. Hangable Auto Buld EP & Richard D. James album.
3rd: Return to acid. Released under AFX, the whole Analord series 1-10.
4th: Plastic microtonal melodies. Orphans & Syro.
I love SAW 1 era (including all the soundcloud stuff from that era) and Analords the most.
Some Tuss, Syro and tracks from his latest EPs as well.
Still stunned by some tracks on Druqks and come to daddy ep but Iām a bit tired of glitch for the sake of glitchyness in general
RDJ album stays my least favorite. Has a cheesy touch to me, I donāt know.
It is not complicated, all his work is to be listened to.
If possible on vinyl, cd or tape, avoid youtube for first listenings,
it is a crime against the hearing of humanity.
Iāve seen people advise to find out in order, thatās fine.
Special case, Classics must be listened to much too loudly,
the ear must bleed slightly at 2/3 of the album to savor it perfectly.
To recap, we suggest everything.
basically!
But the irony of a thread like this is it can quite quickly shift from āhere are the basicsā to a mine of hidden gems.
This thread made my day great listening to lots of Aphex today while working
Also, how have we got this far without Polynomial C being brought up.
When he dropped this a couple of years ago in that warehouse in Manchester, we lost our shit. Iām crying now just thinking about it.
This one is really great. The EP didnāt get much love, but with the bonus tracks itās a very nice collection
I always quite enjoyed that EP, along with most of his to be fair. Usually much more concise and less fillerā¦ yeah, Syro and Drukqs, Iām looking at you.
I sort of think itās worth listening to the Aphex Twin records (as in Iām not talking about any other monikers here) in order of release, sort of taking note what other music was about at the time it came out. Doing that you can see the evolution of him as an artist, and really appreciate how much innovation is there. Of course thatās not the only way to enjoy the music, buts it adds a dimension I think.
For me the Richard D James album is the one that has the most to offer I think. My favourite is Druqks. Not a popular choose amongst hardcore fans I donāt think, and also not great for newcomers as itās quite a broad palette.
Listening to Syro is like a greatest hits album of unreleased songs (in that you can pick out from what point in time the songs were made by their sound and content) and computer controlledā¦ is a great one for a different sort of tone. Donāt miss the b sides on the come to daddy ep too.
For me - The Tuss is my top non AT named release.
My favourite aphex twin tracks - and two of my favourite tracks of all time - are Vordhosbn and Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount from Drukqs. I never tire of those tracks.
Vordhosbn is basically perfect.
Iād like to add that when you listen to Ambient Works Vol. 2, do so in a dark room, with a severe lack of sleep. It adds to the enjoyment factor. Youāll get to dance on the line between flying in a euphoric dream, and giving into insanity.
Druqks is a wonder, Mt Saint Michel is simply divine.
It is such a rich period in his career.
I heartily agree with all three of these statements