How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money
Advantages:
Better than a massage
Disadvantages:
One track . . . Ptolemy
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
This album is a compilation of Aphex Twin's (aka Richard D. James) earliest works, mostly of beautiful, almost spiritual, techno. The title suggests that some of its tracks date back to 1985, when Richard was 14. Such early sign of genius explain why Richard has been compared to Mozart.
The overall tone is calm, making it an extraodinary "come-down" album. If you allow me to be a bit soppy, it's like that feeling you get when you leave a really banging club and you're sobering up, feeling emotional and yet you've still got those banging beats in your head. I think it sounds best on headphones at night, when you really appreciate the softly layered melodies, subliminal beats and (for lack of a better description) strange-noise-wash-undercurrents. It's also incredible whilst driving home late at night.
Admittedly, his youth and inexperience does show in one track, 'Ptolemy', but I don't think it's enough to harm the album. The first half is sheer bliss, especially 'Xtal', 'Pulsewidth' and 'Heliosphan'.
And death to CDs and MDs, LONG LIVE VINYL...
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