We were spoiled in 2001

I totally agree with you. 2001 was a defining year, all these musicians you mentioned imo peaked there, all their best stuff was released during that period. Since then, nothing has ever been the same.

Absolutely, Drukqs was so ahead of it's own time. I've never, ever heard anything like these electronic tunes ever since. The level of detail, emotional melodies, deep content, song progression... Squarepusher was also at his peak there, so was Autechre and Boards of Canada.

Syro has been a great album, I love it actually, but it hasn't bended my brain sideways as Drukqs did back in the day, neither I expected it to do so, but anyway, I miss music like that. Actually, if Drukqs was released today, it would still be amazing, even if less mindblowing, still amazing. It would also get better ratings, more appreciation. Not much people got it back in the day. No one has come close to this stuff. Sure, productions have gotten better, crispier, more bassy and what not, but the arrangement, use of effects, melodies... simply unmatched. No one can channel that kind of thing as good as Richard. Maybe that Steinvord guy has got that ear as well, sometimes I get a similar feeling with some of these tunes. Other than that.. I haven't found any other music like that. And now that Rephlex is gone, I don't have much hope that we'll get to hear any of this ever again, unless Richard himself releases something himself. What I fear is that he starts going on tangents just for the sake of "not repeating himself" and ends up releasing weak releases like Tom. I would rather hear more GP styled material rather than last albums but then again, who are we to tell them what to do with their time.

Take into account as well, that we are nearing 2015. Being as innovative and mindblowing, it gets harder and harder every year. I don't think even Richard himself can come up with an equivalent of Drukqs again in terms of "wow, this is mental". But still, Syro is a great release and very welcomed in today's electronic music scene and music in general, which imo, is getting increasingly boring. Let's hope for good things to come in the future.

Was listening to Drukqs last night and have to say it's improved with age. Not keen on all of the piano interludes, but there's some seriously good shit going on elsewhere.

I didn't like the album much at all after first few listens

everybody was emotional that year

1993 and 1996 were also vintage years of mass aural delight too

Completely agree with this, especially the part about people getting used to lower quality muted plastic sounding shit.

Drukqs is a fucking BEAST. Syro is not; it is dull.

New awesome Aphex album released but let's all gather round and moan that it isn't 2001. Fuck that.

  On 9/21/2014 at 2:10 PM, Lianne said:

 

what happened to that kind of rhythmic invention in electronic music? I get that artists don't want to repeat themselves or to repeat things already explored by other artists, but surely it is good to take stock of what has been achieved previously and to move on with those lessons learned? But when I listen to most new electronic music, it's like Drukqs (or other albums pushing that kind of detail in that period) never even happened. Other than Autechre (who have continued to keep my brain engaged with a consistently thrilling approach to rhythm) and maybe one or two others, most new output seems to be even taking a major step backward in the programming department. Hearing Drukqs again was a shock - a shock because I was getting used to what's going on now, and in so many ways that is so dull compared to what was being explored on that sprawling masterpiece.

 

It has to be said that there are only a handful of true, singular talents in any generation that can take a generic form of music (techno, house, rave, rock'n'roll, whatever) and mould it into something unique, a personal expression. Aphex and Autechre are the obvious examples, where they've taken their music to places that are simultaneously ingrained with the roots of the music and yet also, almost entirely alien to it.

Unfortunately, a lot of people get the wrong end of the stick and try to take someone else's unique music and make it their own. Lots of bad music gets made as a result. I would quite literally prefer to listen to ANYTHING than "idm" music, I find almost all of it repellent, because to me, it has totally missed the point. Too many sheep, not enough shepherds. It's more derivative than the house and techno it claims to be more 'intelligent' than! I should think that's partly why Aphex took the analogue/big studio/OTB route in a big way after drukqs came out - he's trying to shake everyone off his tail, go to places you or I cannot follow..

For this reason, and others, there is the sense that overt complexity has become a little passe these days, outside of the little gang of hardcore enthusiasts, because despite all the technology, so few people can do it well.. And now the music industry's in the shitter, many people can't spend the time and energy to do it if it doesn't provide a decent living. Especially if you grew up with Warp, Aphex etc, know the music inside out but are of a certain age where other priorities take over... In any case, I think subtlety and simplicity are what many people are aiming for these days. This can still be mindblowing, just not in an obvious way, and requires a trained ear to recognise.. and if this music exists in a closer proximity to dance music and its culture, then there is always a chance that some positive influence might cross that symbiotic barrier, and then the music has a sense of purpose otherwise lacking.

I've said it before numerous times: I've never understood the criticism of "Drukqs". It was such a great album at the time, and it still is. That said, the past few years have been just amazing years for music, in my view. I can't even keep up, really (my wallet won't afford it, and I have a principled problem with illegal downloads). I suspect that human beings have a tendency to glorify the music that they liked during their own prime, and I think that tendency makes some biological sense, even if those claims don't reflect an objective aesthetic truth. I sometimes wonder how much of that tendency is informing people's claims that '95 was RDJ's best era, or that '01 was. In any case, I'm very impressed by the output of some of my favorite artists, and I'm very happy with how they're keeping up in terms of quality output. I mean, Ae and Plaid have both had some of their best releases (if not their very best) in the past couple years, and BOC's latest release matches the incredibly high caliber of their back-catalogue. In my view, "Syro" has the potential to take the top spot in my Aphex rankings (I need more time with it to come to a firm conclusion about this). In short, I couldn't be happier with these new albums from the core Warp lineup, and, as much as I like "Drukqs", "Syro" definitely has the potential to rival that classic album.

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:46 PM, Chartreuse said:

Drukqs is like the 2001: Space Odyssey of electronic music. There will always be comparisons to it but I think it's unlikely we'll get something as innovative as that ever again.

this makes me want to scream

the aphex is the end all be all mind numbing stuff

i mean DYKSP/ultra visitor by square pusher... come on... 50 cycles is one of the most innovative things on the planet. virtually every Autechre release post-Drukqs kept the innovation progression going too. I know you get upset when i mention Venetian Snares, but so much of his work is just as innovative (Huge Chrome, Winter in the Belly, Cubist Reggae.)

dudes like Igorrr / Richard Devine, Tipper, Amon Tobin etc.

Drukqs was pretty innovative in its own right, but quit with the aphex superiority business. It's offensive to all the amazing music that has come out since then.

  On 9/21/2014 at 4:38 PM, PhylumZunami said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:46 PM, Chartreuse said:

Drukqs is like the 2001: Space Odyssey of electronic music. There will always be comparisons to it but I think it's unlikely we'll get something as innovative as that ever again.

this makes me want to scream

 

the aphex is the end all be all mind numbing stuff

 

i mean DYKSP/ultra visitor by square pusher... come on... 50 cycles is one of the most innovative things on the planet. virtually every Autechre release post-Drukqs kept the innovation progression going too. I know you get upset when i mention Venetian Snares, but so much of his work is just as innovative (Huge Chrome, Winter in the Belly, Cubist Reggae.)

 

dudes like Igorrr / Richard Devine, Tipper, Amon Tobin etc.

 

Drukqs was pretty innovative in its own right, but quit with the aphex superiority business. It's offensive to all the amazing music that has come out since then.

 

I agree that Squarepusher has continued to innovate over the years. 50 Cycles is really like a new genre that no one, not even Tom, has tried to duplicate since. It's really mind-blowing. However, I have to say that we are getting less music that is comparable to Drukqs and Go Plastic and the like. I mean, that SOUND, not innovation or level of quality. Clark seems to be the only one carrying on that style, in my opinion. Venetian Snares never disappoints, as I'm quite enjoying his latest record. I guess if you looking for something that "sounds like Drukqs" then you're out of luck, but that's fine. These guys are still putting out top-notch, limit-pushing music.

  On 9/21/2014 at 5:08 PM, Chartreuse said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 4:38 PM, PhylumZunami said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:46 PM, Chartreuse said:

Drukqs is like the 2001: Space Odyssey of electronic music. There will always be comparisons to it but I think it's unlikely we'll get something as innovative as that ever again.

this makes me want to scream

 

the aphex is the end all be all mind numbing stuff

 

Subjectivity, look it up.. And I'm only talking about Drukqs here. Aphex has done plenty of stuff I didn't like too.

 

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 4:38 PM, PhylumZunami said:

 

quit with the aphex superiority business. It's offensive to all the amazing music that has come out since then.

 

As I said before, i'm talking about Drukqs, my favourite album; fuck me right?

 

twat

 

Subjectivity? I think you have to ignore the definition of innovation to even make a statement like the first thing you posted. Drukqs also happens to be my favorite album of his as well. But whatever.

Twat.

=) lol

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:51 PM, LemanRuss said:

Completely agree with this, especially the part about people getting used to lower quality muted plastic sounding shit.

 

Drukqs is a fucking BEAST. Syro is not; it is dull.

Lol this guy probably liked Tomorrow's Harvest. Point and laugh.

Have any of you considered that it's just your ears and tastes being acclimatized to more complex music (and similarly complex music made in a similar style) so things just aren't shocking you?

Its not the music, it's you.

If syro had come out in 2001 you'd have shit your pants, "omg acid lines so complex, such amazing mastering, etc"

  On 9/21/2014 at 6:40 PM, Candiru said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:51 PM, LemanRuss said:

Completely agree with this, especially the part about people getting used to lower quality muted plastic sounding shit.

 

Drukqs is a fucking BEAST. Syro is not; it is dull.

Lol this guy probably liked Tomorrow's Harvest. Point and laugh.

 

Hey, I liked both "Tomorrow's Harvest" and "Syro". In fact, I like them both very much. Maybe I'd use the other "L" word, but I'm afraid of commitment. In any case, what's with this "Either TH or S, but not both" mentality that's been plaguing WATMM lately? It's a bit childish innit. The two albums are up to different things, and I'm prepared to argue that they successfully achieve their respective goals. The fact that they are both eagerly-awaited returns from two of Warp's headlining acts is a contingent feature of the two releases and is ultimately irrelevant.

  On 9/21/2014 at 6:54 PM, apriorion said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 6:40 PM, Candiru said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:51 PM, LemanRuss said:

Completely agree with this, especially the part about people getting used to lower quality muted plastic sounding shit.

 

Drukqs is a fucking BEAST. Syro is not; it is dull.

Lol this guy probably liked Tomorrow's Harvest. Point and laugh.

 

 

Hey, I liked both "Tomorrow's Harvest" and "Syro". In fact, I like them both very much. Maybe I'd use the other "L" word, but I'm afraid of commitment. In any case, what's with this "Either TH or S, but not both" mentality that's been plaguing WATMM lately? It's a bit childish innit. The two albums are up to different things, and I'm prepared to argue that they successfully achieve their respective goals. The fact that they are both eagerly-awaited returns from two of Warp's headlining acts is a contingent feature of the two releases and is ultimately irrelevant.

 

Agreed, but when one like's tomorrow's harvest but slags Syro for not being "innovative enough" or for being "dull", it brings question to the credibility of their criticisms.

I like both albums immensely yself btw.

  On 9/21/2014 at 3:51 PM, LemanRuss said:

Drukqs is a fucking BEAST. Syro is not; it is dull.

god damn it why did I have to read this thread

how do you enjoy the present if you are always stuck in the past

  On 9/21/2014 at 7:16 PM, Deer said:

how do you enjoy the present if you are always stuck in the past

By travelling to the future

fuck this thread.

  On 9/21/2014 at 4:11 PM, xy_politics said:

 

  On 9/21/2014 at 2:10 PM, Lianne said:

 

what happened to that kind of rhythmic invention in electronic music? I get that artists don't want to repeat themselves or to repeat things already explored by other artists, but surely it is good to take stock of what has been achieved previously and to move on with those lessons learned? But when I listen to most new electronic music, it's like Drukqs (or other albums pushing that kind of detail in that period) never even happened. Other than Autechre (who have continued to keep my brain engaged with a consistently thrilling approach to rhythm) and maybe one or two others, most new output seems to be even taking a major step backward in the programming department. Hearing Drukqs again was a shock - a shock because I was getting used to what's going on now, and in so many ways that is so dull compared to what was being explored on that sprawling masterpiece.

 

 

It has to be said that there are only a handful of true, singular talents in any generation that can take a generic form of music (techno, house, rave, rock'n'roll, whatever) and mould it into something unique, a personal expression. Aphex and Autechre are the obvious examples, where they've taken their music to places that are simultaneously ingrained with the roots of the music and yet also, almost entirely alien to it.

 

Unfortunately, a lot of people get the wrong end of the stick and try to take someone else's unique music and make it their own. Lots of bad music gets made as a result. I would quite literally prefer to listen to ANYTHING than "idm" music, I find almost all of it repellent, because to me, it has totally missed the point. Too many sheep, not enough shepherds. It's more derivative than the house and techno it claims to be more 'intelligent' than! I should think that's partly why Aphex took the analogue/big studio/OTB route in a big way after drukqs came out - he's trying to shake everyone off his tail, go to places you or I cannot follow..

 

For this reason, and others, there is the sense that overt complexity has become a little passe these days, outside of the little gang of hardcore enthusiasts, because despite all the technology, so few people can do it well.. And now the music industry's in the shitter, many people can't spend the time and energy to do it if it doesn't provide a decent living. Especially if you grew up with Warp, Aphex etc, know the music inside out but are of a certain age where other priorities take over... In any case, I think subtlety and simplicity are what many people are aiming for these days. This can still be mindblowing, just not in an obvious way, and requires a trained ear to recognise.. and if this music exists in a closer proximity to dance music and its culture, then there is always a chance that some positive influence might cross that symbiotic barrier, and then the music has a sense of purpose otherwise lacking.

 

muh afx

muh autechre

This isn't the thread that deserves "Fuck this thread" the most. That honor goes to the "Minipops is a better BOC comeback" or whatever thread in the BOC subforum. Doesn't even deserve a fucking reply, that shit.

I never really "understood" druqks until recently, almost like there was too much going on for me to fully appreciate.

Until last week.

Slightly off topic but I'm commuting to work on my bike and they way I've set my phones up I can't skip tracks so I'm forced to listen to albums in full rather skipping to my faves. I did this a lot with druqks.

It's very, very quite good :)

As are all his albums. They all have their own personality if that makes sense!?

Looking forward to what's offered next...

Some decent discussion on here btw. Fanks wattm :)

I think people criticizing this album don't understand the context of this album. Thinking every album must be some kind of project that is a progression of drukqs is siilly. This album feels like a natural conclusion to the analord/tuss creative period. He's even said this album is just a collection of tracks he wanted to release because he was tired of them and wanted to get it out there. Sounds like he has other projects and albums that he was more excited about, I don't think he's ever claimed it's his best or most innovative music (most of the recent interviews imply this).

I think it's very enjoyable and I'm happy we were able to hear this, there are some really tight tracks on here. I don't think it feels out of place in the library of his music.

  On 9/21/2014 at 7:16 PM, Deer said:

how do you enjoy the present if you are always stuck in the past

Anyone who enjoys old things or ideas is "stuck in the past", because nothing old can possibly be better than anything new (especially Robocop).