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Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2
by: Aphex Twin

List Price: $19.98

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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0093624548225
Label: Sire / London/Rhino
Manufacturer: Sire / London/Rhino
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Sire / London/Rhino
Release Date: April 12, 1994
Studio: Sire / London/Rhino
Sales Rank: 13366
MPN: 45482

Disc 1:

Disc 2:

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
British electronics wunderkind Richard James (alias Aphex Twin, AFX, Polygon Window, etc.) claims he heard the compositions on Selected Ambient Works, Volume II in lucid dreams. Like abstract paintings composed of shades of a single color, James's resonant explorations of specific timbres linger close to a central idea on each cut, incorporating just enough variation to remain disturbing. While its predecessor, Selected Ambient Works '85-'92 drew on seven years' worth of material, the uniform quality of these untitled tracks, plus their judicious sequencing, suggests they were assembled over a shorter period. Clocking in at over 150 minutes, the double-disc set (if this is "selected," how many hours of outtakes remain?) provides an exemplary introduction to the quieter facets of James's expansive, idiosyncratic aesthetic. --Kurt B. Reighley

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Great album for relaxed listening.
The title of this says at it all. This is a great album for relaxed listening.

Rating:

- Chilling.
The dark ambient sounds layered in light beat makes the music infinately enjoyable. Tons of rythmic tones and cords to pick apart and enjoy from every song, over and over again.

Rating:

- Ambient/electronic for those who don't know history
I've been a huge fan of "electronica" since I heard the first synth on a pop record, say about 1968. Since then, I've availed myself of just about every bit of electronic music I could find.

When this came out in 1994, I was underwhelmed, and listening to it right now I still am.

This is bland, formulaic, and trite. Folks who think this is relevant have never heard Another Green World or maybe Music has the Right to Children or even something like Feed me Weird Things.

I've never understood the cult around Mr. James, because to me he's not even in the top 10 much less number 1.

Rating:

- In the Year 3008
Admittedly I'm not a fan of Richard James' berserk musical gestures. I'm usually left crushed shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head. Not being popular in the conventional sence, nonetheless he has grown a cadre of dedicated enthusiasts......Out of his chaos comes "Selected Ambient Works 2". Carefully analyzed refined compositions. James takes the ambient genre into a new measure. An innovative 2 disc set that avoids falling into that peculiar quagmire which entraps many ambientarians....Strangely transparent simply curved compositions employ unnaturally elogated texts and haunting melodies. A masterful work executed under an alien hazed torchlight. Mysterious timeless music which shall be evaluated and appreciated for millenniums. (But why did he put titles onto these pieces on ... Read More

Rating:

- Richard D. James goes the minimalist route
Compared to the earlier ambient album by this artist, Volume 2 is a step forward in every sense. It discards much of the easy going, low-key techno beats of the earlier Volume in favor of a true descent into a minimalist soundscape. The whole album sounds far more sparse and ethereal in comparison to Volume 1. Depending on your tastes and needs, you'll either be fascinated or bored and annoyed.

Atmosphere is the all pervading artistic sensibility at work here. This is a musically liberating conception, opposed as it is to the noise and stress of everyday life symbolized by the aggressive nature of much of pop music. Instead of brutal noise and vacuous musical value, Richard D. James wants to slow down our constantly moving environment and hault the continual desensitization of ... Read More

Music : Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2