Analord by Aphex Twin

I am sure I will write more about Richard D. James (alias: Aphex Twin, AFX, Polygon Window, Blue Calx, Caustic Window, etc.), and in more depth with time, as he is an artist I have followed as best I can since High School (when I discovered the CDs ". . .I Care Because You Do", and "Selected Ambient Works Volume 2" at my old favorite record store, Newbury Comics).

I would rather talk more in depth about the material I have been listening to tonight. The Analord Series.

"Analord" is a series of 12" vinyl recordings by UK-based electronic music artist Richard D. James. The first installment, Analord 10, went on sale through the Rephlex Records website on December 15, 2004, and was packaged in a faux-leather binder with sleeves for housing the rest of the series. It was later rereleased as a picture disc. Both pressings of Analord 10 were marketed under James' primary alias Aphex Twin, although other Analord recordings were released under the AFX pseudonym.

I was not lucky enough to acquire the vinyl recordings (that would have been AWESOME), but through a bit of research I am in possession of digital versions of all 11 parts of the series. Analord marks a bit of a return for James to the analog synthesizers he used earlier in his career. Instruments on Analord include drum machines such as the Roland TR-606, TR-808, and TR-909; sequencers such as the Roland MC-4; and various synthesizers and polysynths, including the Roland SH-101 and Roland TB-303, a Fenix Modular Synth (seen on the B-side of Analord 02), and countless others he has collected over the years or borrowed from colleagues. For those already aware of Aphex Twin, you will notice that Analord also that tracks are similar in atmosphere and melody to James' early acid and ambient techno recordings, yet are still marked by the fast, choppy, multi-layered drum sequencing he has perfected from the Richard D. James Album, providing a quite pleasant synthesis of his old and newer works.

Personally I enjoy this series very much. I have always been a bit biased toward James' softer earlier works. I find them to be more atmospheric and soothing. While the intense skittering beats of some of his more recent work are interesting and have their place, they can on occasion be jarring to the point of disturbing one's enjoyment of his talents. There are skittering breakbeats scattered through these songs, but often muted and buried in the mix to a positive result. In general I would humbly suggest that if you can find a copy of this series, give it a listen. It is a quite worthwhile venture.

TomC