Aphex Twin - Ambient Works Vol. 2 (1994)

Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2 is a more difficult and challenging album than Aphex Twin's previous collection (r. 1992). The music is all texture; there are only the faintest traces of beats and forward movement. Instead, all of these untitled tracks (each cut is titled by a photograph) are long, unsettling electronic soundscapes, alternately quiet and confrontational. Although most of the music is rather subdued, it is rarely easy listening. While some listeners may find this double-disc album dull (both discs run over 70 minutes), many listeners will be intrigued and fascinated by the subtle and intricately detailed music of Aphex Twin.

Small anecdote: In 1998 I was in my first year at university in Scotland. One night I was in a friend's room, listening to The Orb or Radiohead or something, when suddenly this American walks in. He wanted to smoke some of his hash with us. Okay, so we did, and about an hour later we were in my room, where this American wanted to hear some mind-fuck music. Okay, so we did, and about half an hour into Ambient Works Vol. 2 this American went pale-face and ran away - he just couldn't handle it. My friend, a right well cynical bastard, was grinning as he held up a small dark clump. He had no compassion for this American who got pale-face on Aphex!

Another one: track 11 on I think the second disc skips. So you might think, "Ooh some nice ambient music to send me to sleep, what a good idea!" And then you wake up hours and hours later, all sweaty and those nightmarish images still lingering on your mind's retina. And that horrible, creepy repetetive sound in the background - what the hell is that? Oh fuck, the Aphex is skipping. Har har har joke of the three wells.

Aphex_Twin_Selected_Ambient_Works_Vol.II_256.part1.rar (RapidShare)
Aphex_Twin_Selected_Ambient_Works_Vol.II_256.part2.rar (Megaupload)
Aphex_Twin_Selected_Ambient_Works_Vol.II_256.part3.rar (Badongo)

posted by Paxjorge @ Thursday, April 06, 2006