melodies from heaven, beats from hell... (Richard D. James - Aphex Twin)

Member Name: eraserhead

Product:	Richard D. James - Aphex Twin
Date:	17/07/00 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: it will change your life (guaranteed)

Disadvantages: none

'Richard D. James' was the first Aphex Twin album I heard and (without being too melodramatic) it changed my life.

This was the first mainstream release of his 'drill n' bass' sound, after his ultra-rare 'Hangable Auto Bulb' EPs. The album uses a blend of beautiful, almost poppy, melodies, with incredibly complex rhythms, which somehow harmonise perfectly. For the sake of a soundbyte, like Mozart being electrocuted. It's probably his least 'difficult' release, reflected in its huge popularity, and a great choice for first-timers. At times it lives up to the stereotypes of "like listening to a car-alarm/modem/pneumatic-drill etc...", but without landing on the unlistenable side of 'experimental'.

I think it's flawless. I've listened to it regularly since 1996 in many different places and found that it fits any situation (possibly excluding funerals).

And death to CDs and MDs, LONG LIVE VINYL...

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