Selected Ambient Works Volume II

I own hundreds of cds from all kinds of genres, yet I have never heard music speak so clearly to me as this Aphex Twin album. This stuff simply can't be categorized. I guess the term "ambient" fits best, but its really a case of no lable being sufficiently decriptive enough to describe what is here. There is no pretense in constructing these sounds to fit a certain musical style. That's why I respect Richard D James' vision so much. No matter where you are, what you are doing, or how you are feeling, there simply is something for any kind of person on this engrossing, 2 disc set. I suppose the only people that won't like this are those looking for instant results, or gratification. You know, the short-attention span type. Still, I'm completely convinced that even the most easilly distracted or bored person would eventually fall under the spell of some of these mesmerizing mood captures. Not songs, mood captures. From compellingly primal evocations to the serenely cerebral and, frankly, settings from seemingly unrecognised, alien-like sectors of the human psyche, this album, more than anything else I've ever come across (Brian Eno's amazing 'Ambient 4: On Land' would possibly equal this depth if it had the sheer variety that's on these 2 discs) captures what it is to be human in sound. The seemingly impossible was achieved here in 1994. That's the highest praise that I think that I could ever give to any music. I simply can't imagine this music ever becoming dated sounding. This exists outside time. Thank you, Richard.

Just great. I am a fan of his music for quite a while and all of his records are special in their own way. Tracks with a little twist only RDJ can add. Sometimes a bit sinister, but thats ok for me! Most of his tracks are sertainly refreshing and energy boosting. A philosopher teacher once said: "to enjoy and appreciate the quality of sertain aspects (of whatsoever) you have to have rotten spots besides it". In case of some of the tracks ("ventolin" (medicine for asthmatic patiens) for example in which you hear a sample of a person hyperventilating), annoying bleeps, cracks and sounds are added in such way that when they fade away in a track you almost feel a releef....a contrast between serenety and rotten (no offence)

I only recently got into Aphex Twin; having heard Selected Ambient Works Volume 1 and deciding that it was one of the best albums I had ever heard, I went out and got this, 26 Mixes for Cash and the Come to Daddy mini-album. What I particularly like about Richard James' work is the variation. The music he produces differs greatly from album to album but I have not been disappointed by any tracks I have listened to. What struck about this album is that is far less accessible that others I have listened to, but as such far more rewarding. Two hours of ambient music is a lot, but if you really listen the changes in the music are very subtle and clever indeed. The first CD is slightly reminiscent of SAW vol.1 but with more continuity between the tracks and, if its possible, a more ambient chilled out synth feel to it. CD 2 encompasses some industrial sounds and haunting vibes of the sort you would not want to listen to on your own in a wood at night. Actually quite scary even in the daytime. If you really take time over this album, its subtleties and quality will become clear, and this is far more rewarding than those wear the strength of tracks are immediately obvious. In short, if you really like your music, and like what you have heard from Aphex Twin then this is the album for you - it is not a good entry point to his music for someone who has never experienced it before. Try SAW vol. 1 for this; I did and I was hooked! Warp is a quality label - check out their other stuff for great beats from Prefuse 73, Autreche, Squarepusher, Nightmares on Wax and Anti-Pop Consortium to name just a few.