Analogue Bubblebath 1-2 + Classics

Here is the start of the synchronized Aphex cycle! Hope this will be as enjoyable (or even more enjoyable) as the Ae cycle, thanks to all who are participating/plan to participate later on.

With that, let's get started:

Will be doing half-baked reviews later today, enjoy listening!

great, I'm looking forward to contributing towards this. I don't think I've listened to Classics for a long time actually

both of those Analogue Bubblebaths and Classics are a hit and miss , Polynomial C is a gem (definitely in my Top 10 AFX tracks)

AB1 - 7/10

AB2 - 6.5/10

Classics - 8.5/10

Top 5 Tracks (Week 1) (In Order) -

Polynomial C

Digeridoo

Analogue Bubblebath 1

Isopropanol

Metapharstic

Analogue Bubblebath 1 - Richard was right when naming this, it really does sound like you're in a bubblebath of sounds. One of my top AFX moments is the beginning of this track, just the synths playing and rolling over you... :D This is one of those RDJ tracks where the rhythm may seem out of place at times; sometimes when I listen to this I can't "catch" the beats, and other times the groove will fall right in. Interesting how some tracks are like that. This could even be on an earlier version of SAW 85-92.

Isopropophlex - Hard, intense, love it love it. It's amazing how he's able to put so many layers onto a track and still have it be smooth and lively. The laser sounds in this one are probably top 5 AFX sounds for me, they sound so menacing and frightening. The little bit w/the girl singing about flowers is just perfect, a little interlude of sorts. Anyway, great track.

En Trance To Exit - Even if you didn't know this was co-produced, you can hear it's not totally Richard on this one, more of a pulsing beat instead of rough and nearly misplaced. I'm not sure how Richard or Tom made the synth scream like that, but it's just insane. My favorite parts on this one are the bit when the beat starts pulsing really quickly, and the end. It sounds like the bass is rolling off from the track into your ears. I always get excited when waiting for this part

AFX 2 - Sounds like a different, stripped-down version of Isopropophlex in the first couple of minutes, then gets very menacing and creepy. RDJ is genius for creating those "just enough creepy" synth leads to make you uncomfortable. Doesn't really go anywhere at times, but a fun song, and a good outro.

Will be doing AB2 / Classics later

The flowers that bloom in the warmth of the sun are there to be loved by everyone.

*cue lasers*

In Isopropophlex, he cuts the length of the claps just a little every each clap or so, I just love it

also, around 3:30, anyone else hear the claps switching from the L to R channels?

Analogue Bubblebath 2

Digeridoo (Aboriginal Mix) - True classic by RDJ. Same as Isopropophlex, he's very talented at layering so many sequences but having it sound smooth. The beginning before the beats kick in is my favorite part of this one. It gets really nuts at 3:25. Crazy beats, gotta have balls to play this out at clubs these days

AB2 B-1 - This one I don't dig so much, reminds me a lot of AB4 in a way. I do love the Hedphelym sounds in here, but overall it's just average to me. Just realized the kicks are from Hedphelym too, just a little speedier...actually this isn't as bad as I thought it was, decent track.

AB2 B-2 - Love this one! Those voice-sounding synths are just nuts, immense track! I know a lot of people get tired of the 'tss tkt tss' rhythm RDJ seems to do a lot in the early years, but it's just so groovy!

Analogue Bubblebath

Analogue Bubblebath is the perfect first song

the synth at 1:13 is a little cheesy but i like it

2:40 the break down

3:20 aw yeah

4:00 synth is beautiful

4:15 oh snap it's not done!

4:30 whoa that's a bit weird

Isopropophlex - "phlex" -> "rephlex" just a coincidence

the track sounds sooo much more dated

much "darker". lol

0:40-50 do you hear that sort of retriggered blip underneath the drums? pretty cool

snare

byow-byom. cool sound

2:50 first pad gone, new one in

3:40 cool panning!!

4:13 coda let's do it

god i really hate the little interlude. is it supposed to be a joke? just ruins the track for me

when the pad comes in at 5:00 and the drums disappear is probably my favorite part

fade dat shit out

En Trance To Exit

I've only listened to this once so it must suck

it's 1992 up in here!!

0:30 how annoying.

throw the drums back in that's original. not. pshhh

1:30 is kinda cool, like the clink sound

2:12-2:13 hear the synth "snap" in the background? i can't think of another way to describe it. pretty cool

2:35 trippy shit

2:45 is that a voice??? i can hear what sounds like a vocoded/phased "ssss" sound at the end of each 2nd measure

yeah i don't really know about that song

AFX 2, what a strange beat

0:25 wtf is with the 6 bleeps? lol

oh there they are again

repetitive

2:45 the background sound fading in...sounds like something out of SAW2. am i thinking of Domino? i can't remember the song names

definitely SAW2-y, that bit

4:35 what a dope beat

i just love that background thing. i can't wait for SAW2 now.

nice ending

My ranking:

Analogue Bubblebath

Isopropophlex

AFX 2

En Trance To Exit

Classics

Digeridoo - See AB2 review

Flaphead - Kicks in here are MINDBLOWING, so deep and full. If anyone heard the Ae radio show, this being mixed w/'84 Pontiac Dream was heavenly. You can tell RDJ is still in his hard techno phase here, the snares so sound dry and clattering. Love the little 303 blips as well

Phloam - All of these tracks are so dark and menacing, I almost wish Richard would go back to this today, haha. Sounds like some Caustic on this one, deep kicks just the same. Don't like it a whole bunch, but interesting.

Isopropanol - See AB1 review

Polynomial-C - Ahhhh here we go! First song in here that gives me the feeling that this is a true 'classic'! :P I can't imagine actually listening to this during those times, must have been nuts to hear something so different. You can even hear a little of the sounds he moved forward w/on the RDJ album. Probably the best track on here, if it weren't for Dodecaheedron. Top 5 of early RDJ, easy.

Tamphex (Headphuq Mix) - What a funny track, Tampax should have paid Richard for this. More of those just-creepy-enough synths...really liking this one right now, despite the repetition.

Phlange Place - Beginning sounds like some early Ceephax almost, and -OH YEAH AFX 114, forgot this was on here! I dunno if I like it here or in the other form more, both are nice. 4:10 is really the best bit in the whole thing, bringing in that other lead was much needed

Dodecaheedron - WHAT. A. TRACK. I LOVE YOU RICHARD FOR THIS ONE. Probably the roughest track he's ever released, so perfect aahahahhhhh. The kicks sound so full that it sounds nearly reversed at times, and I love the glitches in the background. He sounds so confident in this one, just love it love it love it. Overall a total classic, and my fave track on Classics.

Analogue Bubblebath 1 - See AB1 review

Metapharstic - A great track here too. It seems that Richard took more time on melodies than beats in this era, which I'm fine with. Just wish a better beat was behind this one, would have been even more amazing.

We Have Arrived (QQT + TTQ mixes) - Gabber tracks here, don't love them, but nice for what they are. I personally enjoy the QQT mix much more here....okay, wow, TTQ sounds so much better than before. TTQ is best.

Digeridoo (Live in Cornwall, 1990) - A few changes but technically the same track.

8/10

  On 3/15/2010 at 4:40 PM, bubbhasdance said:

This is one of those RDJ tracks where the rhythm may seem out of place at times; sometimes when I listen to this I can't "catch" the beats, and other times the groove will fall right in. Interesting how some tracks are like that.

 

i feel the same way, in fact on my first couple listens to this song i thought there was maybe a half or a full beat lost when the drums came in. now it just sounds natural to me, i can't hear what i thought was missing anymore.

Analogue bubblebath vol 1:

Isopropophlex - nice build up of sounds, quite like the haunting ambient sound in background. 8/10

Analogue Bubblebath - fucking love relaxing to this tune, when it all goes silent and the lush sound begins at about 1:11. One of my most loved sounds. With the fucking dolphin noises and shit. 9/10

AFX 2 - quite industrial drums and a chirpy repetative synth. doesn't really excite me but its alright i guess 4/10

Entrance to Exit - yeah obviously co produced annoying in places quite nice in others 5.5/10

Bubblebath vol 2:

the one thats 3:47 in length - love the start of it, reminds me of the guiness advert with the surfers. then it kicks in, quite like the melody and the thumping noise. 7/10

the one thats 3:57 in length - quite interesting sounds but a bit too repetitive 5/10

digeridoo - first song I heard by rdj, and it always gets me moving

fantastic tune 9/10 ps. fuck you stockhausen

Classics:

Polynomial-C - melody reminds me of spiderman for some reason, but other than that its a fucking brilliant tune, ill always go back to it. 9/10

Phlange Phase - 7.5/10

Metasparstic - 8/10 energetic

Dodecahedron - 6.5/10

Phloam - 8/10

top 5 tracks:

Polynomial C

Analogue Bubblebath

Digeridoo

Phloan

Metaspartic

Isoprophlex

man.. Polynomial C

I think this first week for me is the hardest afx to get into. I've never particularly been a huge fan of Classics. AB1 + AB2 can't be taken too seriously by me as proper releases, they just come across as releases with a lack of effort involved. I'll try my best to get a review written up before the week is up, but I don't seem to enjoy the tracks on these releases - especially the Classics. There's a certain mood I have to be in, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

Does anyone else see Tamphex as a sort of precursor to the "crazy techno remixes of quotes" genre popular on the internet? I bet if RDJ had been born 20 years later this would have been made about Diabeatus & uploaded to Youtube.

for me, Classics > AB1 > AB2

  On 3/17/2010 at 1:29 AM, Cryptowen said:

Does anyone else see Tamphex as a sort of precursor to the "crazy techno remixes of quotes" genre popular on the internet? I bet if RDJ had been born 20 years later this would have been made about Diabeatus & uploaded to Youtube.

Haha, never thought of it like that, that does sound like it

Love it when the vocal "Tampax" turns into a beat...... genious.

Tampax Tampax Tampax Tampax

Why stop when your period starts?

Polynomial C is a true CLASSIC. When I hear this song it seriously sounds ageless, as if it has existed forever and will never go out of style. This is the soundtrack to soaring through the Cosmos.

woooooooooooooooo, finally got some free time! kind of confused by some things that aren't included in this week, but i'm down!

analogue bubblebath 1

----------------------

this is juvenile afx being awesome. there's a lot of beauty to be found here. his earlier works have more repetition, but seem to find beauty in amazing beats paired up with charming melodies you'd be crazy not to fall in love with. the title track is absolutely stunning, nothing more to be said. isopropophlex is a banger -- whisks you off to a dark room with flashing lights, loud machines and a lot of dancing. melodies fade in softly, but are drowned out by the chaos -- great track. en trance to exit is pretty damn awesome... i don't see why it gets so much hate. it sounds like, as someone mentioned earlier/in another thread, a rave anthem. its loud and dancey... sure it's not that original but who cares it's got some typical afx sounds (theres a really funky bassline that's really quiet that i loooooove). i'd never guess this was a collab if i wasn't told... doesn't sound like pure afx goodness but i'd never have figured it out. afx 2 is nice, but nothing special. feels like music that plays during the credits.

edit 1, analogue bubblebath 2

-----------------------------

digeridoo was one of the first afx tracks i got into and one of the only ones i've really gotten tired of. total acid rave classic, but not much more. it rocks the same groove with some fun synthy noises coming in and out, but doesn't really go anywhere. in my opinion, its the b-side that shines. the first untitled track is kind of like a haunted forest. the sine drone in the background that pans around kind of gets me and he uses that sound from ae-foil that i love so much. the second untitled track just owns. great sounds, riffs, beats... full package.

edit twoooooooooooo, classics

-----------------------------

rarely listen to this album, as i'm not a huge fan of his more hardcore gabbery stuff. that said, still some gems on this. i pretty much enjoy all the tracks, but the ones that stand out (and aren't on AB1-2):

phloam: kind of like some primordial ooze or something. with a lot of grit.

polynomial-c: duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh amazing track. i actually really like xylem tube.

dodeccaheedron: another great track, tons of grit, love the strings

metapharstic: crazy spaceblaster angry track. love the drones and the static and the voices. repetitive, though.

Right then, let's get to it. It's been a while since Classics a full, complete listen. In fact, I think this might have actually been the first time, even though I've been listening to bits of it for years.

Digeridoo - This whole track is crazy fantastic! How else can I put this into words? Every little sound is beautiful, and it all builds up into a catastrophic rhythm that sends your body into a fit. God how I love the many sections that blast your ears with a seemingly never-ending torrent of thick splashes.

Flap Head - This seems to be based around a sublime tapping rhythm. It's virtually impossible for me to hear it without copying it on a nearby hard surface. After two minutes, everything turns spooky with a subtle yet effective drone. He gets a lot of atmosphere out of a rather minimalist set of noises. You gotta admire that skill.

Phloam - During this synchronized AFX cycle, I can guarantee that there will be many, many claims that a particular song will contain the single greatest noise ever. This is one of those claims. Phloam is relentless in its sheer ability to drive you insane, in a good way, with its constant screaming of foam-textured synths and eerie melodies.

Isopropanol - I get some awesome visuals from those pounding laser noises. Also, I think the bells at 2:41 are from the same source as the "flowers that bloom" sample.

Polynomial-C - This is a tremendously good track. It reminds me of Philip Glass' work for some reason, and sometimes it makes me wonder what it would sound like if Philip Glass tried to make techno.

Tamphex (Headphuq Mix) - I just love how this is totally messy and noisy. Probably all the blood...

Phlange Phace - Is it just me or does this contain a lighter version of Caustic Window's "AFX 114"? Anyway, not a particularly good track for me, but I do love the bleepings at the very end.

Dodeccaheedron - This is one hardcore fucking track. That spooky, eerie feel RDJ was so good at achieving around this era is painted all over it, with a haunting Arabian melody coursing throughout. The real highlight for me is those moaning whale sounds that start after a minute. Also, I think there's a sample from Analogue Bubblebath 3 CD track 9 in there.

Analogue Bubblebath 1 - Ah, Analogue Bubblebath. I remember when I first heard this track. It was exquisite. It was sublime. It was scrumdiddlyumptious. The way everything is brought together makes you really, really love each and every beepish, sonic little sound. At 4:12, you find there's a bit of foam, just on your shoulder, so you brush it off and maybe fiddle with it a bit. And by the time your finished, you're all clean fresh sparkle smells like forest fruits nice.

Metapharstic (Classics edit) - This is the epitome of all the spooky, scary feelings on Classics. It combines that eerie chill down your spine with a lust for power and energy, and the result is a soaring torrent of doom.

We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin QQT/TTQ Mix) - Both these mixes are crap. Sorry.

Digeridoo (Live In Cornwall, 1990) - This is quite similar to the original version, though it doesn't sound quite as clean. Personally, I prefer the original.

And so, my Classics best to worst:

Analogue Bubblebath 1

Polynomial-C

Digeridoo

Digeridoo (Live In Cornwall, 1990)

Tamphex (Headphuq Mix)

Phloam

Isopropanol

Dodeccaheedron

Metapharstic (Classics edit)

Flap Head

Phlange Phace

We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin TTQ Mix)

We Have Arrived (Aphex Twin QQT Mix)

That's yer lot. I'll do AB1 and 2 later on.

Dodecaheedron so low? D:

  On 3/17/2010 at 10:12 PM, bigs said:

woooooooooooooooo, finally got some free time! kind of confused by some things that aren't included in this week, but i'm down!

 

agreed, confused by some things lacking from week 1. Overall great concept tho, can't say this is the first time i've attempted to listen to AFX in chronoligical order tho. this list might slightly askew btw but I was not going to get involved during the planning of this that being said, Aphex onward