Aphex Twin Aphex Twin confounds expectation to thrill with RockNess headline set

Aphex Twin confounds expectation to thrill with RockNess headline set

Aphex Twin finishes his RockNess set with BANGING hardcore, complete with three professional gurners in clown costumes and make-up doing crab dances across the stage. Where do I even begin doing a review for that?

Michael MacLennan

By Michael MacLennan

13 June 2010 10:39 GMT

* Comment

182521

Aphex Twin confounds expectation to thrill with RockNess headline set

Major lasers: Aphex Twin dazzled in more ways than one at RockNess 2010 with light show Pic: Ross Cooper

Aphex Twin finishes his RockNess set with BANGING hardcore, complete with three professional gurners in clown costumes and make-up doing crab dances across the stage. Where do I even begin doing a review for that?

Well, let’s rewind a couple of hours. Club 75 reel some of those not transfixed on a nearby big screen showing the World Cup, though not nearly enough. Many of those individual acts (mostly from the Ed Banger stable) who form part of the DJ collective would have commanded a larger initial audience, though thankfully more flock in as 2 Many DJs finish up on the Main Stage, the party atmosphere building just as I have to depart. Ho hum.

I was off for the start of Aphex Twin, an artist so brilliant yet so contrary that you’d be unlikely to ever find yourself ‘partying’ at one of his shows. Or so you'd think. (I’ve seen him twice before, and even though I can consider him one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation – or perhaps of any generation –his live excursions in the past had proved to be too challenging to be genuinely enjoyable.) A loud cheer is heard from inside the tent before I enter the Clash Arena, with dark, claustrophobic beats emerging from outside their intended environs. I'm soon submerged within.

On the big screen fragmented pixels mask and distort scenic landscapes to reflect the music, which while still jittery at times is the most accessible and dancefloor-friendly I've ever heard Richard D James when performing in person; pretty much the entire set that follows is in 4/4. A straight ahead breakbeat is interspersed by a tantalising sample from Windowlicker, though he meanders off into a fierce hip hop beat before long. He may be at his most accommodating, but that doesn’t mean he’s about to wheel out all the hits.

Anyway, enough of trying to adequately describe every ebb and flow of the performance. With James himself shrouded in shadow onstage, the set itself is enveloped in mystery long before it's even over. Was it DJing, live performance or a mixture of both? Can’t say that I’m sure. How much of it was new material that’s recently existed, or that which has existed in the vaults for years while his reputation has grown to precede itself? Again, no idea, though as someone who’s acquainted with most of the records released under his Aphex Twin identity, little of it sounds immediately familiar. Frenetic rhythms boom out from the impressive sound system, ferrying sublime melodies that incrementally reveal themselves from within.

Strangely enough for an electronic artist as notedly cerebral as Aphex Twin it was best to stop with over-analysing each glitch, and instead just clear the mind to fully enjoy the superb atmospheric laser display and superb seamless setlist, which would effortlessly morph from one genre to another, though at all times sounding quite unlike anyone else. (Though you didn't need to leave your brain at the door to the extent you'd have to enjoy Ian Brown, who ironically was on the Main Stage at the very same time...)

I leave the arena for just a few moments to give my ears some much-needed respite from the ferocious sound system, thinking I'll miss little. Upon my return I realise I've missed the entrance of three men in Aphex Twin T-Shirts who are performing gurning faces of professional standard. Which they literally are, when you realise they must be being paid to follow him around on tour, pull silly faces to one number then walk right back off. For once I have nothing else to say on the matter... Well, apart from the fact that the trio later came on in chemists' outfits (traditional rave garb), and the middle one did a crab dance during the most haunting melody I've heard this year, before returning for a third and final time like I said for the grin-inducing finale.

As Aphex Twin flits at the end of his set from jungle to noise, then drum and bass and proper drum and bass terrorism, it says something that this is the first - and probably will be the only - act I’ve danced to all weekend, even after the likes of 2 Many DJs, Boys Noize and all manner of other good-time club acts whose soul purpose is pretty much to get those feet moving. It says something that I don’t think I’ll smile so stupidly for a long time, which is amazing in itself given my initial confounded expectations, and the sinister and sombre persona that’s been built around Aphex Twin. (Most of which probably without his own doing.) Oh, and it also says something that Richard D James showed up on the banks of Loch Ness to slay a festival audience with an hour and a half of banging tunes, providing one of the best festival sets I’ve ever seen. In the absence of many thoughts myself at this moment in time, I'll let you be the judge of what that means.

http://www.clashmusic.com/news/aphex-twin-rocks-the-clash-arena

Twin Rocks The Clash Arena

Warp icon drops new material

Festival Posted by Robin Murray Sun, 13/06/2010 0diggsdigg

Click To View the Fullsize Image/s

Iconic British electronic pioneer Aphex Twin has closed the Clash Arena tonight (June 12th).

Emerging from Cornwall, Aphex Twin has always surrounded himself in myth. Claiming to write music in his sleep, the electronic pioneer takes to the stage at the RockNess Clash Arena with no little baggage around him.

Seven years after the release of his last album 'Drukqs' the Warp icon is obviously on relaxed form. Opening his headline set with some hard hitting electro house, Aphex Twin is obviously in the mood to party.

Shifting between forms, the producer's light show is set alongside an anonymous stage persona. Aphex Twin is barely seen, dropping beneath the turntables to filter through his array of productions.

However the Dj does more than enough to keep the crowd occupied, moving into deep bass driven techno as the set reaches a climax. Dropping a few elements of new material, Aphex Twin mimics his recent French appearance showcasing his recent efforts.

With rumour surrounding his every move, Aphex Twin departs with a single wave to the crowd an enigma to the last. Could his recent burst of activity signal a new album? Time will tell...

  On 6/13/2010 at 11:47 PM, aphexvancouver said:

Aphex Twin confounds expectation to thrill with RockNess headline set

 

Aphex Twin finishes his RockNess set with BANGING hardcore, complete with three professional gurners in clown costumes and make-up doing crab dances across the stage. Where do I even begin doing a review for that?

Michael MacLennan

 

By Michael MacLennan

 

13 June 2010 10:39 GMT

 

* Comment

 

182521

Aphex Twin confounds expectation to thrill with RockNess headline set

 

Major lasers: Aphex Twin dazzled in more ways than one at RockNess 2010 with light show Pic: Ross Cooper

 

Aphex Twin finishes his RockNess set with BANGING hardcore, complete with three professional gurners in clown costumes and make-up doing crab dances across the stage. Where do I even begin doing a review for that?

 

Well, let’s rewind a couple of hours. Club 75 reel some of those not transfixed on a nearby big screen showing the World Cup, though not nearly enough. Many of those individual acts (mostly from the Ed Banger stable) who form part of the DJ collective would have commanded a larger initial audience, though thankfully more flock in as 2 Many DJs finish up on the Main Stage, the party atmosphere building just as I have to depart. Ho hum.

 

I was off for the start of Aphex Twin, an artist so brilliant yet so contrary that you’d be unlikely to ever find yourself ‘partying’ at one of his shows. Or so you'd think. (I’ve seen him twice before, and even though I can consider him one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation – or perhaps of any generation –his live excursions in the past had proved to be too challenging to be genuinely enjoyable.) A loud cheer is heard from inside the tent before I enter the Clash Arena, with dark, claustrophobic beats emerging from outside their intended environs. I'm soon submerged within.

 

On the big screen fragmented pixels mask and distort scenic landscapes to reflect the music, which while still jittery at times is the most accessible and dancefloor-friendly I've ever heard Richard D James when performing in person; pretty much the entire set that follows is in 4/4. A straight ahead breakbeat is interspersed by a tantalising sample from Windowlicker, though he meanders off into a fierce hip hop beat before long. He may be at his most accommodating, but that doesn’t mean he’s about to wheel out all the hits.

 

Anyway, enough of trying to adequately describe every ebb and flow of the performance. With James himself shrouded in shadow onstage, the set itself is enveloped in mystery long before it's even over. Was it DJing, live performance or a mixture of both? Can’t say that I’m sure. How much of it was new material that’s recently existed, or that which has existed in the vaults for years while his reputation has grown to precede itself? Again, no idea, though as someone who’s acquainted with most of the records released under his Aphex Twin identity, little of it sounds immediately familiar. Frenetic rhythms boom out from the impressive sound system, ferrying sublime melodies that incrementally reveal themselves from within.

 

Strangely enough for an electronic artist as notedly cerebral as Aphex Twin it was best to stop with over-analysing each glitch, and instead just clear the mind to fully enjoy the superb atmospheric laser display and superb seamless setlist, which would effortlessly morph from one genre to another, though at all times sounding quite unlike anyone else. (Though you didn't need to leave your brain at the door to the extent you'd have to enjoy Ian Brown, who ironically was on the Main Stage at the very same time...)

 

I leave the arena for just a few moments to give my ears some much-needed respite from the ferocious sound system, thinking I'll miss little. Upon my return I realise I've missed the entrance of three men in Aphex Twin T-Shirts who are performing gurning faces of professional standard. Which they literally are, when you realise they must be being paid to follow him around on tour, pull silly faces to one number then walk right back off. For once I have nothing else to say on the matter... Well, apart from the fact that the trio later came on in chemists' outfits (traditional rave garb), and the middle one did a crab dance during the most haunting melody I've heard this year, before returning for a third and final time like I said for the grin-inducing finale.

 

As Aphex Twin flits at the end of his set from jungle to noise, then drum and bass and proper drum and bass terrorism, it says something that this is the first - and probably will be the only - act I’ve danced to all weekend, even after the likes of 2 Many DJs, Boys Noize and all manner of other good-time club acts whose soul purpose is pretty much to get those feet moving. It says something that I don’t think I’ll smile so stupidly for a long time, which is amazing in itself given my initial confounded expectations, and the sinister and sombre persona that’s been built around Aphex Twin. (Most of which probably without his own doing.) Oh, and it also says something that Richard D James showed up on the banks of Loch Ness to slay a festival audience with an hour and a half of banging tunes, providing one of the best festival sets I’ve ever seen. In the absence of many thoughts myself at this moment in time, I'll let you be the judge of what that means.

 

 

 

 

http://www.clashmusic.com/news/aphex-twin-rocks-the-clash-arena

 

Twin Rocks The Clash Arena

Warp icon drops new material

Festival Posted by Robin Murray Sun, 13/06/2010 0diggsdigg

Click To View the Fullsize Image/s

 

Iconic British electronic pioneer Aphex Twin has closed the Clash Arena tonight (June 12th).

 

Emerging from Cornwall, Aphex Twin has always surrounded himself in myth. Claiming to write music in his sleep, the electronic pioneer takes to the stage at the RockNess Clash Arena with no little baggage around him.

 

Seven years after the release of his last album 'Drukqs' the Warp icon is obviously on relaxed form. Opening his headline set with some hard hitting electro house, Aphex Twin is obviously in the mood to party.

 

Shifting between forms, the producer's light show is set alongside an anonymous stage persona. Aphex Twin is barely seen, dropping beneath the turntables to filter through his array of productions.

 

However the Dj does more than enough to keep the crowd occupied, moving into deep bass driven techno as the set reaches a climax. Dropping a few elements of new material, Aphex Twin mimics his recent French appearance showcasing his recent efforts.

 

With rumour surrounding his every move, Aphex Twin departs with a single wave to the crowd an enigma to the last. Could his recent burst of activity signal a new album? Time will tell...

The first review was alright but he didn't see all of it so that kinda defeats the purpose of a good review (nor could he seem to realise that Afx DID play classics and sure as hell didn't stick to 4/4 at all). As for the 2nd one, he didn't wave, I don't call giving a quick thumbs up waving to someone

I should be payed to do these "pseudo" reviews instead lmao :P

everyone on the forums and in journalism need to know the difference between 4/4 and 4x4 or 4 to the floor ffs.

that 1st review especially is pure wank.

i know that pisses me off too. Of course the set is mostly in 4/4, what dj set isn't(besides VS, which is almost entirely 7/4).

Most music journalists barely have any kind of command of their native language, let alone an understanding of music. (And yeah, I say that as someone who used to be one.)

It's not that shocking, given the readership they're usually writing for. But if you don't really understand music enough to know the difference between "4/4" and "4 on the floor" then for fucks sake, don't bring it up, it only makes you look like an idiot. But it's something non-technical people love to do - throw in the occasional bit of "tech-speak" so they can pretend they know what they're talking about.

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:55 PM, ieafs said:

at least they didnt say something like "using delay and echo effects"

Well, you could be really anal and say that digital delay and tape loop echo (or even spring reverb, which could also be conceived of as "echo") are technically different things, but... ah, I know what you mean.

I wonder if you spring the extra dosh for a "VIP" ticket to LED Fest, you get better sound. It'd be worth it by the sound of these reviews...

  On 6/14/2010 at 12:55 PM, ieafs said:

at least they didnt say something like "using delay and echo effects"

I heavy LOL'd and which review wrote that??!?!?

little pedantic on the 4/4 vs 4 on the floor

just got back. here's my review:

BLEW MY FUCKING MIND

Aaaah glad to see some vids, look like it was great, class lasers no VJ wank, "4/4" banging music, yeah that's what I call a set, reassuring.

  On 6/14/2010 at 10:14 PM, margaret thatcher said:

just got back. here's my review:

 

BLEW MY FUCKING MIND

I tried fucking calling you when I was there!!!!! you had your phone off bitch :D:P!!!!

Great gig! Definitely the best thing at Rockness. Was especially pleased to hear some classics since I thought it was going to be completely incoherent noise and insane, heavy beats - as I heard from so many live performances before.

The first half was the best, was especially pleased to hear Tha - one of my favourite tracks. The last half was intense, very heavy, I still enjoyed it though. Was hanging over the balcony at the front like a dying plant hoping to get a glimpse of big Richard, but the most I seen was his hairy silhouette whenever the smoke machines weren't completely obscuring him. Quick flick of the thumbs up and he was off, leaving me expended, delighted and free to finally piss.

  On 6/15/2010 at 5:17 PM, ConfieldMilkman said:

Great gig! Definitely the best thing at Rockness. Was especially pleased to hear some classics since I thought it was going to be completely incoherent noise and insane, heavy beats - as I heard from so many live performances before.

 

The first half was the best, was especially pleased to hear Tha - one of my favourite tracks. The last half was intense, very heavy, I still enjoyed it though. Was hanging over the balcony at the front like a dying plant hoping to get a glimpse of big Richard, but the most I seen was his hairy silhouette whenever the smoke machines weren't completely obscuring him. Quick flick of the thumbs up and he was off, leaving me expended, delighted and free to finally piss.

You weren't wearing a hoodie by chance where you? a white one?

  On 6/15/2010 at 8:57 PM, Macca said:

  On 6/15/2010 at 5:17 PM, ConfieldMilkman said:

Great gig! Definitely the best thing at Rockness. Was especially pleased to hear some classics since I thought it was going to be completely incoherent noise and insane, heavy beats - as I heard from so many live performances before.

 

The first half was the best, was especially pleased to hear Tha - one of my favourite tracks. The last half was intense, very heavy, I still enjoyed it though. Was hanging over the balcony at the front like a dying plant hoping to get a glimpse of big Richard, but the most I seen was his hairy silhouette whenever the smoke machines weren't completely obscuring him. Quick flick of the thumbs up and he was off, leaving me expended, delighted and free to finally piss.

You weren't wearing a hoodie by chance where you? a white one?

Nope, I was wearing my white Oversteps T-shirt and a leather jacket, was sweating buckets! Was on the camera for a while, had the pleasure of seeing my face get warped for a split second, but I was too far from the guy with the camera to get any decent air-time...

  On 6/15/2010 at 12:18 AM, Macca said:

  On 6/14/2010 at 10:14 PM, margaret thatcher said:

just got back. here's my review:

 

BLEW MY FUCKING MIND

I tried fucking calling you when I was there!!!!! you had your phone off bitch :D:P!!!!

fucker was running out of battery so i kept it off and checked for texts every few hours. my phone's full of about 25 "where are you?" texts.

anyway, slightly longer review of my whole weekend actions:

thursday night, left nottingham at 10:30pm, with a carful of people and alcohol. we drove hard through the night, stopping only to load up on coffee and "disco classics" cds from the service stations. we finally got there, bleary eyed at 8:30am.

we queued up before the gates opened - cracked open our home-brewed cider and had a fag. drunk all the cider before 9:30am, when they let us loose inside.

fast-forward to the evening - i'm quite drunk, raving to fatboy slim with 10 mates. quality. then we go off and watch high contrast, then crash around the campside with some scottish girls we met.

next day, we manage to leave the site by about 4pm to see dan le sac vs scroobius pip, who were quality, one of the best acts of the weekend. found out that my mate murray had shagged some bird during the night while she was using my legs as her pillow. i'm counting it as a 3some.

anyway, saw some other bands, etc, but the bit you want to hear: aphex. i was so happy that he didn't clash with leftfield. the room is dark and full of a strange mix of bearded trenchcoat-wearers and remarkably fit girls. i dance like i'm selling nails. most of the trenchcoaters were not. i end up dancing with some girl who turns out to be 16. it's legal, i suppose. so yes, he starts off with remixed saw1 material, drops the "boom" out of the intro of windowlicker a few times, but strangely old-school techno based for the first half. the visuals were of beaches in cornwall shot in a 360 degree view with glitches, which turns into shots of the crowd with glitched effects. the beats get heavier, he starts playing more jungle based music and then gabba. nothing undanceable, which was surprising. the end was epic - he blasted out some proper noisey stuff which made my ears go numb. also, mad props to the gurning crew.

so afterwards, i go and get a pretty grim burger, and watch the end of ian brown, who plays "fools gold" to widespread applause/flares. a short wait. then leftfield. my mind is blown. they managed to top aphex. the bass was just incredible. my mate ollie pulls a stunner in the crowd. everyone's having the best day of their lives. "space shanty" rips it up, then "phat planet", and everyone in the site is going nuts.

next day, end up watching blondie with a group of girls, who all want to play the old school game "pass the chewing gum". scottish girls are wonderful. and also, the strokes, yes, they were fucking cool, and chase & status were a lot better than i thought they would be.

ended up on sunday night in a tent with two girls from aberdeen uni. i am a lad.

monday, left the campsite at 10:30am, got home at 8:30pm. best fucking weekend ever.

Thought it was worth mentioning that he played a Tuss track, Fredulogon 6. Just in case the already existing mountanous evidence wasn't sufficient.

I know this is almost a month late, but this is a short review of the Aphex Twin gig at Rockness. Now I have only got into him in the last few years so I only know a few of his albums and this review shows I dont know a hell of a lot of his material, but hopefully I sum up some of what it did for me.

Clash Arena 12th June RockNess Festival: Aphex Twin

At the Clash tent the excitement was impalpable for Aphex Twins set, many people including myself had never seen him live before. The music was a lot more subtle than his previous outings which I have heard from previous recordings from T in the Park and Oxegen 2008. the new material still uses some of the trademark drum n bass and gabba bits, but he was really using some nice esoteric sounds that created a nice balance to the whole thing. There was use of visuals such as the familiar Aphex Twin logo and psychedelic colours in the back screen projection that washed with his musique concrete. Then came the lasers, f**k me! bloody amazing which need a special mention alone. Pink, violet, spectrum, lime green, yellow, red and white stripe, yellow and blue striped lasers coupled with amazing spotlight colours that truly made this particular gig a momentous occasion. I was delighted that he revisited Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 and the second track Tha, a musique concrete masterpiece that utilizes submarine sonar, heartbeats and bass analogue synthesizers, the underlying beat being industrial clanks that almost become the heartbeat and reminiscent to something quite like the early Tangerine Dream from the 1970s. I cannot wait for this new record of his to come out and will lap up these new tracks which got the full set treatment tonight. Another rambling into his back catalogue gave us the Fingerbib track from his Richard. D. James record, a visually and audially stunning set from the Aphex Twin.

  On 6/14/2010 at 7:43 PM, marf said:

little pedantic on the 4/4 vs 4 on the floor

'Wannabee' by the Spicegirls is 4/4. So is all that Coldplay. And Chico time.

  On 7/7/2010 at 5:38 PM, Hi T Moonweed said:

I know this is almost a month late, but this is a short review of the Aphex Twin gig at Rockness. Now I have only got into him in the last few years so I only know a few of his albums and this review shows I dont know a hell of a lot of his material, but hopefully I sum up some of what it did for me.

 

Clash Arena 12th June RockNess Festival: Aphex Twin

At the Clash tent the excitement was impalpable for Aphex Twins set, many people including myself had never seen him live before. The music was a lot more subtle than his previous outings which I have heard from previous recordings from T in the Park and Oxegen 2008. the new material still uses some of the trademark drum n bass and gabba bits, but he was really using some nice esoteric sounds that created a nice balance to the whole thing. There was use of visuals such as the familiar Aphex Twin logo and psychedelic colours in the back screen projection that washed with his musique concrete. Then came the lasers, f**k me! bloody amazing which need a special mention alone. Pink, violet, spectrum, lime green, yellow, red and white stripe, yellow and blue striped lasers coupled with amazing spotlight colours that truly made this particular gig a momentous occasion. I was delighted that he revisited Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 and the second track Tha, a musique concrete masterpiece that utilizes submarine sonar, heartbeats and bass analogue synthesizers, the underlying beat being industrial clanks that almost become the heartbeat and reminiscent to something quite like the early Tangerine Dream from the 1970s. I cannot wait for this new record of his to come out and will lap up these new tracks which got the full set treatment tonight. Another rambling into his back catalogue gave us the Fingerbib track from his Richard. D. James record, a visually and audially stunning set from the Aphex Twin.

this is how i saw your post

me too, haha

i prefer my review.

This was upped a few months ago on Youtube a slowed down version of Mt. Saint Michael which was dropped at Rockness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DII7jwhDDGk

And Weirdcores video clip from Rockness

I want to be a professional gurner