Search - Aphex Twin :: Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Rediscover this highly influential album

Steward Willons | Illinois | 05/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Selected Ambient Works 85-92" is one of those rare albums where a composer provides clear evidence that he or she is in that special class of artistic genius where true originality is possible. I'm not suggesting that this is Aphex Twin's best album, as best work was yet to come; nor am I suggesting that this is one of the greatest electronic albums of all time. Perhaps it is, but the key is its influence. "SAW" is practically synonymous with that early Warp Records sound (although SAW wasn't actually released on Warp). The album is one of the sacred texts of the Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) movement and on this disc, you can hear the ideas that helped make electronic music what it is today.



"SAW" dates back to a time when Aphex Twin was using a lot of analogue gear and the tracks have a nice warmth to them. Many of the sounds on this album will already be familiar to most listeners since they entered the canon of electronic sounds long ago. The cool thing is, this album is where so much began.



In 2008, the year of the re-release, SAW sounds dated, but not in a bad way. The song construction is timeless, but style of the album is firmly rooted in the early 90s acid house and inchoate IDM scene. The remastered version keeps the sounds true to the original, but everything sounds a bit more forward and present. As mastering levels increased over the years, some of this early music began to sound a little anemic when played at the same volume. The remastered tracks now sound full and rich, and the overall sound matches what we expect from contemporary recordings. If you have the original, as I did, I'm not sure if the price of upgrading your recording is necessarily worth it. You'll have to make that call for yourself, but it is a fun way to rediscover a beloved classic.



If you're an electronic music enthusiast and you don't have SAW already, now is the time to buy it. If you're just starting to check out Aphex Twin, SAW would certainly be an option, although I might recommend "The Richard D. James Album" or "I Care Because You Do" first, since they reflect his mature sound and his main body of work overall. Ultimately, SAW is an album we should all have in our collections"

Beautiful

Courtney | Melbourne, Australia | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd heard nothing but good things about this Aphex Twin album, and it met all expectations. The songs are faultness, brilliantly made, and highly inspirational. For example, "Tha" is a lengthy song with little changes, but it never ceases to be interesting and relaxing. "Xtal" is one of the greatest pieces of music i've EVER heard...it just makes me so happy. There couldn't possibly be any improvements to this album because it's perfect. Everyone should own this, and noone has a good excuse not to. Put this at the top of your list of "things to buy"!"

Best Album, Ever.

P. Yurista | Orlando, FL | 08/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is, undoubtedly, the best electronica album of all time. I Love this album. All of the songs. Period. From someone who has been in the music industry professionally, I have heard lots of music. And when it come to Aphex Twin, and any other in this genre, it ROCKS."