Windowlicker: The End of An Era

I was watching that Chris Cunningham live video of Windowlicker in the other thread, and it got me thinking how great WL was when it came out, how fresh and original the song (and the amazing video) were at the time, and it for a moment, had me thinking that an album of Windowlicker-quality tracks could possibly be the release that would top (IMO) Richard's Magnum Opus, I Care Because You Do.

Unfortunately, due to some non-musical business deals, the followup album to Windowlicker never materialized, and it wouldn't be until several years later we'd get DrukQs, a great release in it's own right, but not one I feel that has the unique, almost magical quality that ICBYD had (and still has), and what I think Windowlicker hinted at, had an album followed later that year as was originally planned.

Hopefully we'll hear more tracks from that period, as I think it was Richard at his most creative and original since ICBYD.

i think windowslicker is a good track and I especially like the jizz climax part, but there are multiple other tracks made by aphex which I think excel or equal it in quality, in their own way.

never liked it. the japanese version is good though.

  On 7/22/2009 at 5:40 PM, Joyrex said:

I was watching that Chris Cunningham live video of Windowlicker in the other thread, and it got me thinking how great WL was when it came out, how fresh and original the song (and the amazing video) were at the time, and it for a moment, had me thinking that an album of Windowlicker-quality tracks could possibly be the release that would top (IMO) Richard's Magnum Opus, I Care Because You Do.

 

Unfortunately, due to some non-musical business deals, the followup album to Windowlicker never materialized, and it wouldn't be until several years later we'd get DrukQs, a great release in it's own right, but not one I feel that has the unique, almost magical quality that ICBYD had (and still has), and what I think Windowlicker hinted at, had an album followed later that year as was originally planned.

 

Hopefully we'll hear more tracks from that period, as I think it was Richard at his most creative and original since ICBYD.

I for one agree with you on ICBYD being Richard's defining album...it even tops SAW85-92, in my opinion. It should be the album that he's remembered for.

On the topic of Windowlicker, it's a great song, and a perfect single, but an album of WL-quality songs still wouldn't top I Care; there's tons of songs by him beat it, quality-wise. Iz-Us is a great example of songs during that time, I'd listen to that over Windowlicker any day.

  On 7/22/2009 at 5:40 PM, Joyrex said:

some non-musical business deals

elaborate

pluralis maiestatis

The Windowlicker video is, in my opinion, the best music video ever made. It's undoubtedly inspired by Michael Jackson videos (a music video as a short film, the dancing, face transformation) and has multiple layers, like it's also, apart from being a shocking and at the same time funny video, a satire of one-dimensional R&B and rap videos (extensive swearing, the anonymity of the women where only the tits and asses are important and not to be forgotten: the ridiculously long limousine). I can't believe it's already been 10 years since the video was released and I think it's still up-to-date.

As for the song Windowlicker itself, I really like it and think it's truly original. I've always liked how the shuffling groove is created due to the compression (one of the rare times RDJ has actually used compression that extensively, peaking at the end of the song). Also the mood of the song kinda feels hedonistic, with the moans, lalala's and slow moving synths adding to that mood. I think this really adds to the video as well and intensify the video images.

I actually wouldn't know what kind of album Windowlicker could be on. What would the other tracks sound like? I think this was a one time thing only that stands by itself.

  On 7/22/2009 at 6:21 PM, dr lopez said:

  On 7/22/2009 at 5:40 PM, Joyrex said:

some non-musical business deals

 

elaborate

I already did in other threads, extensively. Can't be arsed to search atm.

  On 7/22/2009 at 6:38 PM, Barricade said:

The Windowlicker video is, in my opinion, the best music video ever made. It's undoubtedly inspired by Michael Jackson videos (a music video as a short film, the dancing, face transformation) and has multiple layers, like it's also, apart from being a shocking and at the same time funny video, a satire of one-dimensional R&B and rap videos (extensive swearing, the anonymity of the women where only the tits and asses are important and not to be forgotten: the ridiculously long limousine). I can't believe it's already been 10 years since the video was released and I think it's still up-to-date.

 

As for the song Windowlicker itself, I really like it and think it's truly original. I've always liked how the shuffling groove is created due to the compression (one of the rare times RDJ has actually used compression that extensively, peaking at the end of the song). Also the mood of the song kinda feels hedonistic, with the moans, lalala's and slow moving synths adding to that mood. I think this really adds to the video as well and intensify the video images.

 

I actually wouldn't know what kind of album Windowlicker could be on. What would the other tracks sound like? I think this was a one time thing only that stands by itself.

After seeing and hearing Windowlicker for the first time, I imagined an album where the tracks would all be on the level of quality that WL is... in fact, if asked to describe WL with one word, it would be just that: quality. The amount of depth, the unique sound combinations and textures this track has is just mind-blowingly unique. Hell, the second part of the song with that bassline and the French lines just makes it for me, as well as the slight echo on the end of that section before it goes into the distorted guitar-like ending. Add to the fact that he constructed this song out of primarily his voice is even more a testament to it's uniqueness. The 'complex mathematical equation' track notwithstanding, don't forget Nannou also was borne on this EP, although it's quite possible that Nannou could have come post-Come To Daddy in terms of it's percussion and theme, and long before Richard starting working on the songs that would eventually lead up to Windowlicker.

I kind of agree, but I think Richard's masterpiece should be Druqks.

  On 7/22/2009 at 7:07 PM, pissflaps said:

I kind of agree, but I think Richard's masterpiece should be Druqks.

I'm sure Richard himself feels that way too - I got the impression that he regards DrukQs to be a very personal, very important piece of work, and one that he's most proud of. Considering the amount of time he put into it, from the photographs for the artwork, to all the prepared piano pieces, to the personal nature of many of it's tracks, I can totally see why he (and others) would consider it his best work to date. However, some regard it as a strange mixture of styles (some feel the piano tracks are better on their own, and the more traditional tracks dilute this theme on the album), and there's a bit of mystery as to if DrukQs was Richard's 'contract breaker' for WARP, following the whole Windowlicker fiasco, with the promise of an album shortly after WL was released, and Richard deciding on not delivering it, and then finally making good on it with DrukQs, albeit at a much later date than expected.

Yeah I know what you mean. Personally I think the piano pieces combined with the beat tracks fit. What I don't believe is that thing about Drukqs being something he rushed to break a contract. Theres lots of people saying that. The press believed that, and almost all reviews mention that too. Is just stupid. I reckon Richard got pissed at the fact Drukqs was never appreciated enough and he decided to not release anything as laborious anymore.

  On 7/22/2009 at 7:12 PM, Joyrex said:

  On 7/22/2009 at 7:07 PM, pissflaps said:

I kind of agree, but I think Richard's masterpiece should be Druqks.

 

I'm sure Richard himself feels that way too - I got the impression that he regards DrukQs to be a very personal, very important piece of work, and one that he's most proud of. Considering the amount of time he put into it, from the photographs for the artwork, to all the prepared piano pieces, to the personal nature of many of it's tracks, I can totally see why he (and others) would consider it his best work to date. However, some regard it as a strange mixture of styles (some feel the piano tracks are better on their own, and the more traditional tracks dilute this theme on the album), and there's a bit of mystery as to if DrukQs was Richard's 'contract breaker' for WARP, following the whole Windowlicker fiasco, with the promise of an album shortly after WL was released, and Richard deciding on not delivering it, and then finally making good on it with DrukQs, albeit at a much later date than expected.

I agree with this as well - although I haven't gotten 110% into Drukqs yet, I can tell it's one of those albums where once you 'get it', you'll love it. This or I Care should be his shining work.

It's nice to look back and appreciate what once was. Windowlicker still sounds fresh after 10 years, once of those timeless, iconic tracks. With you on ICBYD being the album I keep going back to from RDJ's analog back catalog.

I'm really feeling the Analord/Tuss stuff more these days though. Digital glitch hypercutup freakout was really starting to become a parody of itself. It had its day for me. I still don't think the HAB's were touched with respect to intricate programming + SOUL. Note the dynamic there. There were plenty of displays of intricate micro-sequencing after HAB but they didn't really have the soul to go with them. Flim and IZ-US are the obvious exceptions. Death Fuck was my least favorite Tuss track, reminded me too much of the glitch.

I'm back to appreciating a good groove with a few twists and turns. Which brings me back to Windowlicker: It's got a good groove with a few twists. The subtle touches you mentioned. But so does Bwoon Dub.

windowlicker seems to me the perfect mix of richard's earlier style (organic, melodic, awkward humor) vs. his later style (rdj, come to daddy, drukqs; the laptop stuff). clearly it was composed and created on a computer, but it still has the flowing feel of his earlier acid. the track is intricately structured, much like the beaty songs off drukqs, but it undulates in ways that recall ICBYD and SAW85. I would say the closest he has come to that perfect balance of styles since is the Tuss material, but you can tell he's already moving in a whole new direction (retro-futuristic?), so I doubt we'll see a windowlicker-style album anytime soon (or possibly any album at all for that matter).

drukqs is like that same mixture, but seperated into tracks of one style and tracks of another. and honestly, for me, most of the piano tracks suffer for lack of groove and most of the drum tracks suffer for lack of flow. also, in reference to the 'contract-breaker' theory, my impression is that the beaty stuff is almost richard reminding everyone that he can do that dnb vsnaresy shit too, and better than most, and that's what the kids want so you know they'll eat it up. in short, it's quality music, but it doesn't strike me as being the music that richard himself was or is truly interested in creating.

  On 7/22/2009 at 8:12 PM, Hijexx said:

intricate programming + SOUL. Note the dynamic there.

well put.

where can i download this SOUL plugin???

  On 7/22/2009 at 8:38 PM, hahathhat said:

where can i download this SOUL plugin???

You can't - Richard ate it

i have a question -- if he wanted people to take druqks seriously**, why name it drukqs? with a name like that, people are going to form certain opinions before they even hear the album.

**i wager a lot of people on watmm take drukqs seriously. also daily.

  On 7/22/2009 at 7:06 PM, Joyrex said:

  On 7/22/2009 at 6:21 PM, dr lopez said:

  On 7/22/2009 at 5:40 PM, Joyrex said:

some non-musical business deals

 

elaborate

 

I already did in other threads, extensively. Can't be arsed to search atm.

 

pls do - I read the forum daily since forever and I don't remember that - or at least sum it up for us shortly

If thats true it gives a complete new perspective on richards work to me

thx

ah dont mind I found it: http://forum.watmm.com/topic/41090-whats-the-story-with-warp-and-richard/page__st__30__p__908698entry908698

it just occured to me that the name DrukQs might be a joke answer to the question "what did you spend the advance on?"

Hangable is probably the best example of Richard's 'busy' tracks, even more so than Drukqs, in my opinion. While Drukqs holds more to the melancholy beats that we heard more from him (especially in Analord), HAB has more feeling, more soul, as that guy posted up there somewheres. Can't really describe it. And with The Tuss, he seems to have fused his I Care/WL/CTD era with a slight touch of Drukqs, which is always good, I guess. The Tuss isn't O_____O for me the same way I felt when I first heard other albums by him, but it's still an awesome album.

I'd say drukqs comes from the german word for print.

  On 7/26/2009 at 10:53 PM, tv_party said:

I'd say drukqs comes from the german word for print.

I thought it came from the english word for drugs. I wager most english speakers presume the same.

Anyone who's read this forum for a while knows that the reason Richard got all quiet after Drukqs was because of how soul destroyed he was at Joyrex's two perfectly chosen word review of the album.

Since then his confidence was shattered and he retreated back to his vault to compose music on his old analogue gear while crying into his cider.