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Where do I start with Aphex Twin?
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:33 pm
by saurus
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
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:37 pm
by Nazeal
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
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:38 pm
by JosephG
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.
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:18 pm
by Cupz
I agree with the motion. SAW ftw.
Also Druqs is where you'll hear him shine in every aspect.
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:22 pm
by Phasen
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.

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:08 am
by JosephG
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.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:14 am
by Beacon
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.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:46 am
by turquoise70
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.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:34 am
by (parenthesis)
Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of his releases. Just listen to some songs on youtube and buy whatever you like
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:53 am
by Pondmuk
Fingerbib!
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:19 am
by dp
i started with I Care Because You Do. the whole album is quality.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:33 am
by Twoism-ist
now i feel like listening to the richard d james album. it's been too long!
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:48 am
by Quillian
Selected Ambient Works '85- '92 and if you like that, check out the "Surfing on Sine Waves"album he did under Polygon Window.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:16 am
by powershoes

but seriously, surfing on sine waves is where i started. ahead of its time.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:29 am
by Tarsier
I'd recommend I care because you do and the Richard D James album. Then get Drukqs.
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:53 am
by rolypablo
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...
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:01 pm
by The Voice of Reason
- 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
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:06 pm
by rik0000
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...
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:22 pm
by rolypablo
The Analord Series is absolute mint as well. Under the name AFX.
Analord 1-11
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:35 pm
by Quillian
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).