Classics (Aphex Twin album) explained

Classics
Type:Compilation Album
Artist:the Aphex Twin
Cover:Aphex Twin - Classics.jpg
Released:30 January 1995
Genre:Acid techno, hardcore techno
Length:74:03
Label:R&S Records
Producer:Richard D. James
Chronology:Richard D. James
Prev Title:Analogue Bubblebath 4
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Ventolin E.P
Next Year:1995

Classics is a 1995 compilation album by the electronic music artist and producer Richard D. James, more commonly known by his pseudonym of Aphex Twin.

The album collects James's early releases, including the Analogue Bubblebath, Digeridoo, and Xylem Tube EPs with a handful of other songs, including remixes of Mescalinum United's "We Have Arrived". It was released by R&S Records following James' success on Warp Records. James was not involved in the release of this compilation.[1]

A remastered version of the album was released on 2 June 2008. The cover for this reissue resembles that of Selected Ambient Works 85–92, albeit with the black and white inverted.

Background

James' first release was the 1991 12-inch EP Analogue Bubblebath on Mighty Force Records. In 1991 James and Grant Wilson-Claridge founded Rephlex Records to promote "innovation in the dynamics of Acid — a much-loved and misunderstood genre of house music forgotten by some and indeed new to others, especially in Britain".[2] From 1991 to 1993 James released two Analogue Bubblebath EPs as AFX and an EP, Bradley's Beat, as Bradley Strider. Although he moved to London to take an electronics course at Kingston Polytechnic, he admitted to David Toop that his electronics studies were slipping away as he pursued a career in the techno genre. After leaving school James remained in the city, releasing albums and EPs on Warp Records and other labels under a number of aliases (including AFX, Polygon Window and Power-Pill); several of his tracks, released under aliases including Blue Calx and The Dice Man, appeared on compilations. Although he allegedly lived on the roundabout in Elephant and Castle, South London during his early years there, he actually resided in a nearby unoccupied bank.[3] [4]

In 1992 James also released the Xylem Tube EP and Digeridoo (first played by DJ Colin Faver on London's Kiss FM) as Aphex Twin, the Pac-Man EP (based on the arcade game) as Power-Pill, and two of his four Joyrex EPs (Joyrex J4 EP and Joyrex J5 EP) as Caustic Window. "Digeridoo" reached #55 on the UK Singles Chart, and was later described by Rolling Stone as foreshadowing drum and bass.[5] He wrote "Digeridoo" to clear up his audience after a rave.[6] These early releases were on Rephlex Records, Mighty Force of Exeter and R&S Records of Belgium.[7]

James had no creative input and was against the release of this compilation, accusing R&S of "milking as much money as they can out of me, because they know I'm not going to give them any more records."[8]

Notes

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aphex Twin, VPRO Radio (25th May 1995) . 15 July 2022 . 25 May 1995.
  2. Web site: ~~~ The definitive RePHLeX ~~~ . 14 June 2008 . Wilson-Claridge . Grant . Grant Wilson-Claridge . 30 November 1992 . alt.rave .
  3. Web site: Untitled . 14 June 2008 . O'Connell . John . October 2001 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080615033834/http://www.aphextwin.nu/learn/100771194880071.shtml. 15 June 2008 . live.
  4. Web site: Lost in space . 14 June 2008 . Toop . David . David Toop . March 1994 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080603074638/http://xltronic.com/nostalgia/aphextwin.nu/v4/learn/98136154898147.shtml . 3 June 2008.
  5. Encyclopedia: Biography . 2008-06-14 . 2001 . The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll . https://web.archive.org/web/20080622142914/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/aphextwin/biography. 22 June 2008 . dead.
  6. Robinson . Dave . The Aphex Effect . April 1993 . Future Music .
  7. Web site: tracklisting . 2008-06-14 . Hobbs . Mary Anne . Mary Anne Hobbs . 6 December 2005 . Mary Anne Hobbs . BBC .
  8. Web site: Aphex Twin, VPRO Radio (25th May 1995) . 15 July 2022 . 25 May 1995.
  9. Web site: n/a . Reprint of Q Magazine's 50 Heaviest Albums of All Time list . rocklistmusic.com . 2018-12-23.
  10. Web site: SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds.
  11. Web site: The Official Charts Company – The Aphex Twin – Classics . . 30 August 2009.