AFX's Selected Ambient Works 85-92 was released on Belgian label R&S Records, and it's an amazing album considering when it was recorded (1985-1992, hence the title) and the fuzzy mix of analogue equipment, old school drum machines and swooping synths still sounds fresh today, and it was absolutely revolutionary at the time. Take for example Xtal. I love this track so much, the sampled voice flows smoothly throughout and those synths coming in at 1:50 kill me every time.
I've posted this next track before, it's a great example of the album's elements, being upbeat while remaining fairly chilled. and I dare you to not like that opening melody :).
I wouldn't say I have an overall favourite, but Ageispolis comes damn close. there's not much to say about it than what I've already said. Heavenly synths, low bass and so on, enjoy.
Moving into quasi-dancefloor territory is this track, the intro is something else, slowly leading you on until the drop happens. And it's bloody fantastic.
another great showcase of tech this one (listen, try and guess all the equipment!), it's what we've come to expect so far, only with a layer of acid drizzled on top. Gorgeous.
My final pick is a real testament to AFX's skills, managing to keep probably the most simple melody/bass/beats combo of the album fresh for about 7 and a half minutes. you'll have listend to it all before you know it.
And that's all from me, I know I haven't written alot about the tracks like I normally do but, as cliché as it sounds, I felt I didn't need to. It's a fantastic album (that and the tracks are hard to describe anyways :P). Also bear in mind this was recorded between 1985 and 1992, meaning the oldest tracks on here (only one I remember from '85 is Ageispolis) are TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD and he was only 14 at the time to boot. Like it or not, you gotta admit that's pretty amazing.
Beep Boop,
-Claude Van Foxbat
1 comment:
Gotta love a bit of Aphex!
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