Richard D. James Album 1996 Album

Aphex Twin

When I initially heard it, I wasn’t sure if it was done to get a laugh, or just someone’s harebrained idea of cool computerized music. I’ll grudgingly give James his due – here and there, the music is catchy, and feels like the product of a red-faced, naughty little English boy madly tweaking away on machines, drum patterns, and oddly-placed noise-makers. “4” and “Cornish Acid” sticks in my head the most, but “Girl/Boy Song” is a good pick as well. The problem is far too many of these tracks feel like pieces that fit into someone else’s mix at a late 90’s rave. The edition I have includes five bonus tracks, most notably “Milkman” which features James obnoxious’ vocals (“I would like milk from the milkman’s wife’s tits”).