Classics

The latter song I mentioned, 'Phlange Phace' is even more astonishing in the authors audacity and inventiveness with a drum machine and keyboard. It begins with ominous, striking keyboard stabs and a racing drum loop which just grabs your attention and holds you in its grasp for a further five minutes. The tempo just consistently changes with differnt effects and textures comandeering the mix and you just listen in awe.
There are indeed gentler moments. 'Polynomial-C' fades in with a rolling keyboard sample and cutting strings. It is a beautiful song which is eventually driven along by stuttering drums.
'Classics' is full of little moments of genius like little string samples jumping in and out of a song which is purely bass and drums. This structure, heavenly sample put over a mangling beat is used quite alot in the Aphex back catalogue, but it always seems well used and never familiar, always fresh and exciting. Aphex Twin is a true innovator and should always be remembered as one. A dance producer and composer always pushing the boundaries of music as we know it. This was the first Aphex Twin album I bought, if you are unfamiliar with the Twin, I suggest you also make this your first purchase by this most amazing artist.
Other recommended listens are his 'I Care Because You Do' album and his 'Windowlicker' single.


How can someone sooooo good be Soooooo bad   June 20, 2000
Colin P. Weiss (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States)
4 out of 9 found this review helpful

Anyone, even one not even remotely interested in idm and electronic music has to admit that aphex twin has definite skill. For those who do like that kind of music, he remains as one of the best, and by far THE MOST varied electronic artist ever. Whether it is ambient, drum and bass, or pure dance tracks, aphex twin is at the top of his game. THUS, when I heard of his classics album, I figured it would be a wondrous compilation of his most varied and best work. Instead it is a mix of the annoying, industrial, hard music which Richard makes just to annoy people. HOw could these be his classic tracks, they are his WORST tracks. Besides polynomial-C, and annalogue bubblebath, this is a compilation of some of the worst and hardest to listen to idm I have ever heard.


Most accessible aphex twin cd   May 6, 2005
Richard W. Todd
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I think, of all the aphex twin I've heard, this is the most accessible collection of songs. The songs are enjoyable, and as another reviewer noted, their stripped down simplicity gives them a lot of energy. I was expecting a more eclectic, difficult album, but I enjoyed it regardless. It was actually kind of a treat to hear such straightforward music under the Aphex Twin moniker.


Wonderful album for the RDJ fan, but not his best   April 9, 2004
Kevin Emery (Arvada, CO United States)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I Didn't need to listen to this album more than once to know that it was going to be another incredible Aphex Twin listening experience. This is an interesting compilation, because it mixes many excellent tracks from the most repetitive facet of his hardcore style with some of the the most beautiful and catchy selections from his softer side (Polynomial-c, Analogue Bubblebath 1), resulting in a listening experience that sucks you in with the promise of beauty, and takes you on a hardcore Aphex Twin...head... trip.

Nonetheless, this is Aphex Twin we're talking about, and "Classics" is not his best album. On the softer side of Aphex soundscapes, I recommend "Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92", in the middle, "Come to Daddy EP", and on the hardcore side, "Caustic Window: Compilation". "Classics" is good... darn good. But those three are even better - Unless, you're looking for specifically what this album is - a flowing collection of good, repetitive, hardcore, classic Richard D. James tracks.