Where do I start with Aphex Twin?

saurus · Post by **saurus** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:33 pm

I'm such a fucking noob..... but I'll go ahead and frickin ask it.

Where oh where do I start at Aphex Twin's back catalogue that's accessible and enjoyable and easy to discover his other sides? BoC are the only IDM/ambient/whatever band of their sort I am into really!

Thanks x

Nazeal · Post by **Nazeal** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:37 pm

Always start with Selected Ambient Works 85-92...that is must to listen to

then from there on it depends if you wanna go towards SAW2 or towards his "heavier" stuff

at least thats IMO

JosephG · Post by **JosephG** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:38 pm

I would have to agree with Nazeal, start with Selected Ambient Works... it's his first release under the Aphex Twin pseudonym. It gives a good impression of the type of music he works with. I would say you should try his whole catalog from earliest to latest; jumping straight into the druqks album may be too much. It's a lot different from where you start with SAW... So I guess I would say try it chronologically and see how you like it.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:18 pm

I agree with the motion. SAW ftw.

Also Druqs is where you'll hear him shine in every aspect.

Phasen · Post by **Phasen** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:22 pm

The tracks that made me fall in love with him the most:

On The Romance Tip
Cordialator
Stepping Filter 101
Window Licker
Ageispolis
Rhubarb
Blur

Check out some/all of those and soon you will have heard it all lol.

JosephG · Post by **JosephG** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:08 am

Cupz wrote:I agree with the motion. SAW ftw.

Also Druqs is where you'll hear him shine in every aspect.

Druqs is my favorite by him. It's one of the best he's done, the quality is really amazing.

Beacon · Post by **Beacon** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:14 am

I never really liked Ambient Works 85-92 that much when I first heard it. I would start with Richard D. James or Come to Daddy. Come to Daddy has really pretty songs and a really heavy/grungy song. "4" from Richard D. James is the song that got me hooked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iiK4MgIPtI

Your best bet might be to download everything by him and just try to find what you like the most. He has released a pretty big variety of music.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:46 am

SAW is probably his most "accessible". I love it personally but it took me a long time to grow into it since, to me, Aphex Twin always conjured up mental imagery like 4 or boy and girl song. My favorite Aphex Twin releases are SAW, SAW II, and druqks, so I recommend those.

(parenthesis) · Post by **(parenthesis)** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:34 am

Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of his releases. Just listen to some songs on youtube and buy whatever you like

Pondmuk · Post by **Pondmuk** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:53 am

Fingerbib!

dp · Post by dp » Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:19 am

i started with I Care Because You Do. the whole album is quality.

Twoism-ist · Post by **Twoism-ist** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:33 am

now i feel like listening to the richard d james album. it's been too long!

Quillian · Post by **Quillian** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:48 am

Selected Ambient Works '85- '92 and if you like that, check out the "Surfing on Sine Waves"album he did under Polygon Window.

powershoes · Post by **powershoes** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:16 am

but seriously, surfing on sine waves is where i started. ahead of its time.

Tarsier · Post by **Tarsier** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:29 am

I'd recommend I care because you do and the Richard D James album. Then get Drukqs.

rolypablo · Post by **rolypablo** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:53 am

SAW first then probably best getting a hold of a few albums and skimming through to find tracks you like... I Care Because You Do, Richard D. James, SAW2, Dukqs... whatever.
A couple of great tunes to check out is

Analogue Bubblebath...

and

Alberto Balsam...

The Voice of Reason · Post by **The Voice of Reason** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:01 pm

- Selected Ambient Works I
- Selected Ambient Works II
- I Care Because You do
- On

From there, pick anything up. All of it is good.

On - On

Stone in Focus - Selected Ambient Works II

rik0000 · Post by **rik0000** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:06 pm

I (accidentally) started with ....I care because you do and it is still one of my favorites. But I agree with what some said before, SAW (both of them) are a bit easier to start with...

rolypablo · Post by **rolypablo** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:22 pm

The Analord Series is absolute mint as well. Under the name AFX.

Analord 1-11

Quillian · Post by **Quillian** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:35 pm

rolypablo wrote:The Analord Series is absolute mint as well. Under the name AFX.

Analord 1-11

Definitely, it has a few weak moments, but overall it's fantastic.

I don't think I'll ever grow tired of the songs on Analord 11 (Mydoom in particular).