Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Sattumoisin ollu työkiireiden keskellä mm. tämä levy tehokuuntelussa, lykätään siitä ansiosta VITSKA

Yay! Had been meaning to listen this properly! :)

Floating through space wooooo

Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio Odyssey 2 Artwork: λ⌖℮ Production: (ツ) Music: 𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 Rating: λ λ λ λ λ /5

YES!!! This website always becomes a lot more tolerable once I escape the 70s. I always hated electronic, but I think I was engulfed in 'indie rock' snobbery. This is energetic, fun yet casual. I'm sorry to all the Aphex Twin listeners I truly doubted you, yet now I see how horribly wrong I was </3 Top Picks: Xtal Pulsewidth This is very much a 5 for me hehe

Such a beautiful album. Without Aphex Twin, we may not have BoC or Four Tet. One of the best, if not the best IDM albums of all time.

"SAW 85-92" is one of the best electronic music albums of all time. Those who hate it are simply ignorant. "Tha" is nothing but a classic that will forever be futuristic. What makes "SAW 85-92" very special is that RDJ was only 13 when he recorded his first song for the album in 1985. I don't think any album, past or present, will ever be like Aphex Twin's debut. 5 stars for "Selected Ambient Works 85-92", nothing less than that.

i love aphex twin!!!!! ok but fr i mostly know his most famous stuff but i've always been meaning to get more into his other songs. i didn't know any of the songs on this one tho so that's a good start. one thing about me is if they don't sing the title of the song in the song, i will never remember what the song is called,, but this is ambient music after all, i'll probably just throw on an album every now and again and vibe w it. i love how it just goes on forever and so many of the songs are like 5+ minyútes. right up my alley

So good. Did we just become best friends?

whomst amongst us does not love a beautiful ambient album

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" Indeed, this is a desert island album for me. But let's be clear, the title is a misnomer. There's very little here I would consider ambient, certainly not in the Brian Eno sense, or anything like that. We get plenty of gritty beats and acid sounds, there's lots to me that sounds like techno and house. All the best parts of it, from that time period when people were really truly experimenting and putting out fresh sounding electronic music. He made this with homemade synthesizers - it doesn't really matter, because he apparently channeled something otherworldly here and the equipment was just a conduit. This is melodic, hard edged, weird, happy, spooky, and a thousand other things. It's exactly what you want it to be, maybe what you *need* it to be, at the moment you listen to it. It's a chameleon. You can play it at unsafe volumes and you can play it as background music, barely audible. It benefits from careful listening with headphones but also makes you want to be at a warehouse rave in 1990. It's incredible and I will probably listen to this for the rest of my life. Hard to pick favourites, but as of this moment: Green Calx, Heliosphan, Xtal, Ptolemy.

Genesis of modern house music and overall an excellent collection that can be thrown on for a multitude of circumstances.

Best ambient album ever. Paved the way for many artists

Fantastic

Genial. Esse álbum apresenta uma enorme profundidade sentimental através de blips e blups. Aphex Twin é originário de um pequenino e isolado vilarejo, e apesar disso, seu disco de estréia representa a vida orgânica através da frieza do eletrônico. Acho uma experiência quintessencial caminhar por algum tipo de selva, seja ela natural ou artificial, composta de árvores e grama ou de prédios e asfalto, enquanto ouve este álbum. Tudo vira arte. Rostos passageiros, arranha céus imensos e refletivos, veículos potentes, pássaros inteligentes. Sinta então o pulsar igualitário de toda vida, orgânica e inorgânica. Deus em todo lugar, em toda fenda. Em cada passo e cada olhar. Selected Ambient Works é o acompanhamento ideal para esse estudo profundo e meditativo. Método de produção evidente: Uso de samplers analógicos. Fortes vibrações de um cara esquisito com a mente peculiar, isolado em um lugar remoto com acesso a tecnologias rudimentares e seu próprio intelecto e criatividade inacabáveis. Um álbum eletrônico tremendamente humano e quente. Com pulsações análogas à batimentos cardíacos. Cachoeiras, motores à combustão. 5/5

A classic

ambient worls hat ambient erfunden kudos Aphes Twin c

BANGER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Aphex Twin, I am a music technology major, I am sorry. There is perhaps no electronic music artist ever as important. This is a real popular album for me when I’m looking down a 5-6 hour car ride, similar to boards of Canada. It’s meant for you to just get lost in it while doing something that you don’t have to focus too hard on. Can’t recommend that experience enough. I just cannot come up with another ambient artist other than maybe Keith Keniff or Grouper if you can count her that has such memorable melodies and song structure in these immense, sprawling compositions that just hold your attention. Like a decade or so later to give credit where it’s due, Deadmau5 sort of got there but lost the soul/emotion that Aphex is going for in favor of dance music. I’m overanalyzing without really talking about the music, just know I love this album and it makes me sit there and contemplate why I even try to make music when something this good already exists. In the context of the list, if people give this a 1 or 2 I get it, this is an album you have to purposefully go into and listen and if that’s my only complaint it’s that I didn’t have that time today to sit for 75 minutes straight and listen to it. It’s harder to digest in segments like I had to today.

I'm firmly in the 'admirer but not a massive fan' camp but this is an easy 5 banger.

This was great. Perfect background music for my 22nd December work day of checking data files when I'd probably rather be drinking mulled wine. But context is important right? I think what I liked about this, vs. a lot of the other electronica on this list, is that the repetition feels quite deliberate and the music has a chance to breath. It's very chill and probably more suited to my tastes than something like The Prodigy

Neat.

I was so deep into the music at the time that I didn’t realise I was living through such a major peak for EDM (the 90s) There were so many incredible artists and albums that stand up strong over 30 years later. This is no mean feat for a technology based art form. SAW85-92 is a core text of the genre.

Pure genius. The Twin never disappoints

Lovely

So bad I had to listen to it five times back to back.

I already listened to it lol

The standard that every "chill beats to study/relax to" playlist is trying reach

30 anni dopo e sembra ancora un album dal futuro 5/5

Really liked this. Sounds like it could have been made yesterday.

really incredible, and rather groundbreaking work of atmosphere that is felt intimately. if you can't see the vision here i think it might be too late for you. you're not gonna make it. ambient techno fulfilled. wonderful synth work. textures and sounds that Aphex Twin makes his own; I can tell his hands have been on each song here. deserves to be one of the 1001? absolutely for sure for sure BUT ONLY **ONE**???? ONE APHEX TWIN ALBUM????? ARE YOU SHITTING ME???? no SAW vol II, no I Care Because You Do, no Drukqs? NO RICHARD D JAMES ALBUM????? this list is fucking laughable holy fuck. also because i won't get the opportunity to say so otherwise: i wanna see some dub techno on the next edition. one of them Chain Reaction albums in the metal case.

1001 albums on easy mode

Incredible album. Not every day that such a seminal album is also on rotation frequently. I listen to this album front to back at least once a month.

It's crazy how 30 years on this still sounds like it could've been made last week. Aphex Twin is just the goat of electronic music

good vibes

Couple of years ago I thought people listening to aphex were such edgy and music nerds, they appreciated him a lot. I couldn’t force myself to listen, I was too afraid bcs I had too much respect to it somehow LOL, like it would be “out of my league”. Thanks to writing for music column in student magazine, I had occasion to do an interview with someone who produces ambient and I ended up liking this genre. Now I like aphex a lot, even his “weirder” albums, they are absolutely dope!! What’s funnier, turned out I knew one aphex song but I wasn’t aware it was him (back when I was a student).

Thought this was exceptional album from a great artist.

loved this. great music to work to

This album sounds like being alone inside a circuit board that dreams of the ocean. It’s eerie, gentle, and deeply alien — the moment electronic music stopped trying to imitate humans and started building its own soul. It’s not ambient in the “spa playlist” sense; it’s the sound of consciousness learning how to breathe. Each track is a ghost in the machine, blinking softly in 4/4 time. Rating: 5/5 Short Review: Music that hums like memory, decays like light. Favorite Track: “Xtal” — it’s like your first lucid dream set to a heartbeat that isn’t quite yours.

Easily the best electronic/idm record of all time 5/5.

4.5/5

Love these guys straight🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Heerlijke veelzijdige deuntjes om van te genieten. Het is gewoon lekker rustgevend. Xtal, green xalx, heliosphan en delphium als favs

Im blown away about when this was released vs how modern it sounds, found it pleasantly enjoyable and it's hugely influential, easy 5*

Exactly what I needed to hear today!

My cup of tea. Feels like Aphex influenced a lot of music i like

Classic

Good this

Brilliant

Ah yes, Richard D James. I have actually never listened to this before today, it's been on my radar for a while but I suppose that Aphex Twin is just one of those artists that I haven't got round to yet. And unsurprisingly, I love this. It really is everything you would want it and expect it to be. Fantasticly produced, well arranged, and masterfully written, this album just has everything going for it. Very glad to have finally had a reason to listen to this, I'm sure I now will many more times in the near futute.

The first Aphex Twin album I ever listened to and still one of my all-time favorite electronic records. It’s ambient, at times hectic and weird, at other times soothing and rhythmic. A perfect listen for me, especially during late autumn

insane what this guy could do 40+ years ago

ахуенный эмбиент

This experimental, groundbreaking work completely expanded my understanding of "music." Every moment of this album is resonant, even if you don't get it at first -- it will reveal itself on the third, twelfth, or 200th listen.

YESSIRRRR

Indisputable Classics!!!

i wish there were more electronic music here

I listened to this album once on four tabs of acid. I could see and feel the texture of the tracks like they were solid objects on display in a museum. I come back to that moment every time I listen to this album now. Must listen #188 (JEFF BUCKLEY BELOW IS MUST LISTEN #187 BTW)

Richard D. James’ debut under the Aphex Twin moniker is nothing short of a masterpiece. Selected Ambient Works 85–92 isn’t just an album, it’s an atmosphere. A dreamscape. A deeply emotional electronic journey that somehow sounds both alien and intimate, timeless and futuristic. From the opening track “Xtal,” you’re pulled into a lush, otherworldly space where chopped vocal samples drift over soft, breaky beats and warm pads. “Tha” strips things back to an almost hypnotic state of minimalism, while “Heliosphan” injects melody and groove without ever losing its emotional weight. Tracks like “Ageispolis” and “We Are the Music Makers” feel like nostalgic transmissions from a parallel dimension. What makes this record special is its humanity. Despite being made entirely with machines, it resonates on a very human level. There’s no flashy production tricks or overworked layering, just a raw, honest, and surprisingly gentle approach to electronic composition. It’s rare to find music that feels this immersive and replayable. Selected Ambient Works 85–92 is the kind of record you live with. The kind you put on at 3 a.m. and suddenly feel understood. A landmark release that’s still lightyears ahead of its time. 5/5

I got introduced to Aphex Twin with Windowlicker and never really went back to listen to this one. I am on the record on not liking EDM or most things close to it, but I love Aphex Twin. I prefer his later trip-hop and jungle beat stylings, but I will admit this was a perfect collection of ambient works.

One of those albums where you think "why wasn't anyone else just making music like this?". As if it should just be expected to sound this crisp with so many added parts that make it all work. Masterpiece. And the fact he was 14 making some of these songs is just astounding. Shame that a couple tracks get ruined by an annoying high pitch nosie but whatever

5/5. Just a perfect collection of minimalist electronic tracks from one of the greatest electronic artists of all time. This walked so "Lo-Fi Beats to Relax/Study to" could run. Each song feels like it stands on its own and could each go on for longer than their run time. It's hard to critique this album when they are just perfect audio tracks with their own flavors and styles. It's just a great listen through every time. Best Song: Xtal, Tha, Green Calx, Delphium

que buen álbum pero odio recordarte cadaa vez que lo oigo

Love this album, gives off a chill nighclub vibe and a few songs in the album are out of another world.

I liked this a lot. In fact, I liked this a lot more than most other electronic music. It's layered and has depth and nuance instead of aggressively loud and repetative features common in most electronica. It sounds sci-fi, like something out of Metroid Prime or Mass Effect. My favorites were probably Xtal, Ageispolis, Green Calx, and Ptolemy. Definitely something I could put on while doing some light gaming.

this is a staple for the genre, very good, second time hearing it full length, glad i did, very good, feels so ambient i forgot it’s playing, would definitely wanna get this on vinyl soon, would recommend

One of the best albums of all time, defined electronic music for generations of musicians moving forward

This is so good! Is Aphex Twin always this ambient? I don't think so anyway

Favorites: Xtal, Ageispolis, Actium Aphex Twin is absolutely one of my favorite electronic artists of all time. Everything he touches is magic, and this record is absolutely no exception. Alluring and honestly quite beautiful at times.

An absolute classic of the genre. Some of the other 1 star reviews of this are hilarious (“elevator music). Simple yet melodic in an often quirky and unique way. Haven't got bored of listening to it over 30 years. What this list should be all about.

WooooW! I like it so much!

Imprescindible su escucha al menos una vez en la vida. Es otra cosa,como J Dilla o Dj Shadow pero en ambient, en tecno, en electrónica y en todo ello. 13 temas y más de 70 minutos para elevarte donde quieras ir. Green Calx es un anticipo de lo que serían The Prodigy o los Chemical Brothers. Entre The Orb y Underworld, cogiendo el testigo de KLF... Heliosphan es una delicia. Boards of Canada podrían quedarse en esta canción. La segunda parte es tan buena o incluso mejor. Entre My bloody Valentine-Eno-Tangerine Dream y Derrick May. Su influencia ha sido y es, capital: desde Radiohead, Tame Impala, 1975 hasta Charli XCX o Beach House.

L’ho ascoltato non so quante volte negli ultimi mesi, l’album perfetto per studiare

Now I’m not normally a fan of this type of music, but Aphex Twin just really perfected it in a way that makes you understand the genre. Great ambient beats to both keep you interested and let you drift off into your own world. I dig.

Yes🔥

A masterpiece of bleeps written by someone 14-21 years old at the time. Maybe it’s appropriate that this album has no expiration date for me. Ageless melodies and rhythms.

It's cliché at this point but it bears repeating: this album isn't *really* ambient but you can't *really* dance to it either. So, what is it? Well, Brian Eno, a guy who comes up one or two times on this list, once wrote "ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting." The problem, of course, is that SAW85-92 isn't really ignorable, per se. But you can pay attention to it at any level while listening and it'll always be perfect, with Aphex Twin's surprising ear for melody maybe being the secret weapon here. It might not be the best album for a sleepless night, but in a pinch it'll work for a restless one.

Minecraft inspired

Gorgeous. Just chilling out on a Sunday night. Book in hand, this album playing.

You know, I've complained a lot about 90s British electronic music on this list. Too many of those albums now have just bored me to death. It doesn't help that a lot of them just have no reason to be on this list. But there are some that belong here, and if there's any 90s British electronic album that deserves to be called a must-listen, Aphex Twin's debut album, Selected Ambient Works 85-92, is a strong candidate. Aphex Twin in an interesting figure to me. He's had such a long and acclaimed career and is considered by many to be one of the greatest artists in the whole genre. Do I get it? Believe it or not, I do! This is a great album! I get it. I see the appeal of Aphex Twin. The fact that these songs were made between 1985 and 1992 astounds me. It's fair to call this album ahead of its time in many regards. The songs are actually pretty varied. That's the thing that's really pissed me off with worse albums. They just feel like 70+ minutes of the same thing over and over again. SAW 85-92 doesn't feel like that though. Compare the chill ambient vibes of a song like the opener "Xtal" to the absolute peak comedy that is "Green Calx." I love both of those songs in very different ways. The latter has a boing sound effect! I love it. All throughout, whether the music is a chilling song or a dancing song, the vibes are just excellent. The production is very respectable. The fact that the earliest of these songs were made when Richard D. James was just a teenager is crazy to me. But you wanna know the best part of the album? It actually doesn't drag. This album didn't feel like 74 minutes to me. The length of the album actually feels justified given the nature of the project. I was engaged through the album by its impressive technical qualities, strong vibes, and the boing noise in "Green Calx." I may not be as big on it as others are, and I still wouldn't say I'm a huge electronic fan. But Aphex Twin is an artist I can get behind. I'm very happy to have finally listened to this legendary album. Low 5/5.

What a super chill album. Heliosphan transported me to somewhere else.

One of the prettiest listening experiences a person can have, anywhere, anytime. Much like other boundry-pushing electronic works of the 90's (DJ Shadow's Endtroducing comes to mind), Selected Ambient Works is greater than just the sum of it's parts. The album starts with one of the greatest, most arresting, transcendent songs anyone's ever made. "Xtal" has a perfectly muted kick pattern, a shiny female vocal loop, a melancholy set of chords, and a PERFECT additive/subtractive progression. These all come together to make something so ethereal, calming, and other-worldly. Sometimes, I think this is what a journey to the afterlife could sound like. Sometimes, it feels more like a rave in some crystalized palace - like the round room where the organization 13 meets in Kingdom Hearts. Wherever this song takes you, there seems to be a collective understanding of how incomparable it is. No drug can ever take me where this song does. "Tha" is next, and gets overlooked due to it being preceded by a contender for greatest track of all time. This track buries itself further into the liminal, repetitive, muted space. I've just recently come across early dub techno, specifically the "Radiance" tracks made by Basic Channel. Those songs are the only fair comp i could give to "Tha". It's like listening to a rave going on above ground while you're 15 feet under shimmering ocean water - echoey, glistening, but very much muted. I was listening to this album on a sunny, warm run, and the world almost felt too alive for these first few songs. Luckily, the album methodically ramps things up for a bit. Then "I" comes on and its just over a minute of completely placid, slighlty somber ambient chords. This project couldve been an EP that stops here and it wouldve already been generational. What follows is some acid!! "Green Calx" sounds more like what an early 90's uk warehouse was probably like, after the advent of the strobelight, but well before the american usage of an LCD screen, or even a culture of facing the dj, at raves. "Heliospan" is fairly notable for being one of the more compositionally active tracks. None of this music gets anywhere near pop radio, but I could see this one being the closest - if you put a vocal on top of it maybe? "Ptolemy" is for sure adjacent to the "rave stab" trope. Usually done with pianos, those little windy, slightly atonal whistle synth hits are so 90's dance music. "Hedphelym" is the last song that really stands out to me for it's apocalyptic sound pallet. Those dissonant horn/synth notes come together to make things seem like you're hiding out in a cave waiting for emergency sirens to stop, waiting out some alien cataclysm with that thumping kick and those noise hits/SFX. If you like this song, u-Ziq's "Hasty Boom Alert" is a wonderful iteration of this sound -- very similar but with some faster, more frenetic jungle-adjacent drum sampling. All the words I know and using them to attempt to describe the feelings of this album are like having a wardrobe of clothes that dont fit right. In it's best moments, I am sent to places in my mind that dont exist in real life. Places that are liminal, empyrean, unearthly, beautiful, and perfect. I haven't even touched on how I think this album created a subculture of gen Z's eventual fascination with "liminal spaces". And I WON'T mention the stupid genre moniker "IDM" for this review, even though it did kinda birth the genre. I understand if Selected Ambient Works isnt for you - there was a time where I didnt understand the appeal of Aphex Twin at all! I wanted music that hit me in the face and matched my energy. But if you can be patient and spacious, and meet this album in the mysterious places it takes you, then you'll be rewarded with a sonic journey to places that go beyond description

finally generatore proposed me techno.

A delicate, reserved, intricately designed watch-maker album that makes you want to lean your ears in and figure out how it all works so well. And yet, you can also just have it on in the background as a vibe. This is the type of record that sounds brilliant in every context, whether you’re digging into Excel spreadsheets or you’re stoned on your couch playing video games. It’s dinner party music, it’s coffee shop music, it’s romancing music, it’s maybe sometimes house party music, it’s study music. Sure, I think it’s a bit long and overly detailed for an active listen, as that sort of attention requires you to do a lot of ✨thinking✨ for a long period of time, but as Pauline Oliveros suggests, ambient music is more about deep listening, and Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is quintessentially a deep listening record. For being a collection of tracks made when Richard D. James was a literal teenager, there’s a cohesion and educated brilliance to this record that just…shocks me, especially for music that holds such a multi-faceted punch in every context. This is the dream of ambient music fully realized.

okay yannick this might be fire. Okay this is actually gas asf yeah it's fire

An absolutely masterful piece of electronic goodness by one of the best to do it. Solid 5 Stars.

It’s a 5. This is my first Aphex Twin album, and while I’m very aware of his status as an electronica legend of sorts, I’ve just never really gone out of my way to look up a track. I’m sure I’ve heard at least one of these before – his music is simply too ubiquitous for me to have never encountered it, but I didn’t recognize any during this listen. Is that a good thing? Well, maybe; I feel like this is the sort of music that’s meant to come & go, as opposed to other stuff that really sticks in your brain. The only ambient music I’ve ever really recognized off a few notes is stuff off of Kid-A. That’s not to undersell anything here though; they are remarkably well composed & produced tracks. With enough time spent with this album, I’m sure I could specifically point out each track on a case by case basis, and really be able to describe the intricacies of what makes it tick. I didn’t want to do that on a first listen, though. I just wanted to feel the music itself, and… yeah, I felt it alright. This is remarkably good electronica for presumably 1985 to 1992, and it’s very easy to find a zen state for the vast majority of the 74 minute run time. My brain recognized a lot of intricacies in the production, especially in terms of shifting waveforms for all these synths & 808s that added depth to each track, but my brain wasn’t really *perceiving* those intricacies in the moment. In the moment, I just felt comforted by each soundscape, as a vaguely textured white noise that was really nice to read to. This is radically good studying music. I wrote a few things down on each track, just to stay attentive, but it was like writing notes for a lecture – write first, comprehend later. Even then, my notes are really scattered, and nothing of too much substance; “big booming bassline”, “nice chiptune vibes”, “cool rapid percussion”, “sounds kinda like Earthbound”, “nice 808s”, etc. I don’t know that it would do much good, because describing these tracks will never replicate what it’s like to listen to these tracks, & the entire 74 minutes is worth listening to, whether it’s with headphones in, on plain speakers, on a nice soundbar, or in a car. It is a blissfully good album, and while the electronica can get a little grating at certain points (a few really high pitched synths or some extra heavy bass), it’s never enough to ruin a track. It’s a 5 for me, and I’ll gladly come back to this.

Sheer brilliance from Xtal to Actium.

Loved it. It's like GOA trance. Put me a productive mood.

I don’t care how long you’ve been listening to electronic music, or how old, or young you are, this is a must listen to album for any fan of electronic music. This is a “know your roots” type album, and I think that’s why this is such a great album that should be on everyone’s list if they are new to electronic music. These tracks are already 30+ years old, and it has definitely stood the test of time, and this is a album that I know I’ll probably be going back to every now of than in 20 years from now.

A deeply meditative album: the repetition draws you into to a drance, the warm tones make it feel comfortable and relaxed, the subtle shifts in texture and timbre keep you engaged albeit passively, the ebbs and flows build and release tension gently, the bass resonantes throughout your body while the lead lines distract your mind.

A must listen.

My son used to fall asleep during this one when he was few months old and I thought he should be fine at least regarding his music taste. Unfortunately he discover Baby Shark recently and I am not so sure anymore. Anyway, this is of the best album of all time.

Vibes. I left this one for Monday, so I can have a great morning and a beautiful day.

I couldn’t stop listening. It seems to transcend its time. Definitely not one that you put on to show somebody, but the arrangements are beautiful, intricate, and dynamic.

This is a great album. One of my favourite things to put on while working. It's up there with Eno's best stuff for me.

I liked its it’s it was a new sound for me

5/5

Dope jams. Loved it.

Absolutely love this album, although it took me a while to come around to as a teenager. Now I listen to it often when working, it's great for both focusing and daydreaming. Looking at it in context, there was really nothing else like this at the time, and it had a huge influence on all electronic music that came after it. Add to that all the weird and interesting lore around Apex Twin building his own synths and other equipment, and you have a truly legendary and essential album. I find some people struggle with electronic music in general, so expect the reviews for this to be pretty polarised. If you find it sounds repetitive, I recommend taking your focus away from the repeating elements (usually the drums/beats) and focus instead on the elements that are added and subtracted throughout the songs. Then just let your mind drift :)

This album brought my love back for electronic music.

Something about this type of music connects with the little struggling neurons in my brain in a way other genres of music don't seem to. I was listening to this while I worked and it was not helpful. I often found myself staring blankly at the wall, no longer working, having picked out some small individual sound, following it along its journey through the track, unable to snap out of the trance until the song ended. Which also sounds oddly like a mind-numbing tranquilizer, an agent of control constructed to lure me into a state passive submission, where Richard James' nefarious designs on the world can begin to take shape. I wouldn't put it past him.

Ha, I remember buying this album back in highschool and putting it on in the car and my dad commenting "well.. there's not much to it, is there?" I'm curious to see his take these years later. I have a soft spot in my heart for 90's electronic music. This is probably Aphex Twin at his most approachable. It's an album that can easily fade into the background, but rewards active listening. The perfect album to put on headphones, close your eyes and drift.

I love ambient music

If you are like me (and I pray for your sake that isn’t true), putting this album on will induce a Proust-grade flashback to using Xtal as the menu music for the unusably slow SNES emulator on the Dreamcast with a Teletubbies splash screen in 10th grade. Five stars.

## In-Depth Review of *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* by Aphex Twin Aphex Twin's debut album, *Selected Ambient Works 85-92*, released in 1992, is often hailed as a cornerstone of electronic music. This compilation not only showcases Richard D. James's innovative approach to sound but also redefines ambient music, blending elements from various genres. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also evaluating its pros and cons. ### ****Lyrics One of the most striking aspects of *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* is its minimal use of lyrics. The album predominantly features instrumental tracks, which allows the listener to immerse themselves in the soundscapes without lyrical distractions. When vocals do appear, they are often treated with effects that render them abstract and ethereal, contributing to the overall ambient quality of the music. The absence of traditional lyrics invites listeners to interpret the music in a personal way, creating an emotional connection that varies from person to person. This aligns with Aphex Twin's ethos of exploring the subconscious through sound rather than narrative. ### ****Music and Production Musically, *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* is a rich tapestry of textures and rhythms. The album comprises tracks that range from serene and atmospheric to energetic and danceable. Key tracks such as "Xtal," "Tha," and "Pulsewidth" exemplify this diversity. The production techniques employed by James are noteworthy for their lo-fi aesthetic. Utilizing a modest setup—including a Roland SH-101, Korg MS-20, and Yamaha DX7—he crafted intricate soundscapes that feel both organic and otherworldly. The album was recorded onto cassette tapes, adding a grainy quality that enhances its nostalgic feel[2][4]. James's use of drum machines and synthesizers creates a unique blend of ambient textures with rhythmic elements reminiscent of early rave culture. This fusion has led to debates about whether the album fits neatly into the ambient genre or if it transcends it by incorporating dance music dynamics[1][4]. ### ****Themes Thematically, *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* explores concepts of space, time, and emotional landscapes. The tracks evoke feelings ranging from tranquility to introspection, often transporting listeners to dreamlike realms. For instance: - **Ethereal Soundscapes**: Tracks like "Ageispolis" create an immersive experience that feels otherworldly. - **Nostalgia and Memory**: The lo-fi production contributes to a sense of nostalgia, making listeners reflect on their past experiences[3][4]. - **Exploration of Consciousness**: The abstract nature of the music encourages deep listening and self-reflection, prompting listeners to engage with their thoughts and emotions. ### ****Influence The impact of *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* on electronic music cannot be overstated. It has influenced countless artists across genres, from ambient to techno and beyond. Critics have noted its role in redefining ambient music by demonstrating that it can be as dynamic and engaging as more traditional forms[4][5]. The album has been cited as an inspiration by various musicians and producers who appreciate its innovative approach to sound design and composition. It serves as a benchmark for electronic artists seeking to blend atmosphere with rhythm while maintaining an experimental edge. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound Design**: The album showcases groundbreaking production techniques that were ahead of its time. - **Emotional Depth**: The instrumental nature allows for personal interpretation and emotional engagement. - **Diverse Range**: Tracks vary widely in mood and tempo, appealing to a broad audience. - **Cultural Impact**: It has significantly influenced the development of electronic music genres. #### Cons - **Minimal Lyrics**: Some listeners may find the lack of lyrical content limiting or unengaging. - **Lo-Fi Production**: While many appreciate the grainy aesthetic, others might perceive it as a drawback compared to modern production standards. - **Lengthy Runtime**: At over 74 minutes, some tracks may feel repetitive or drawn out for certain audiences[6]. ### Conclusion *Selected Ambient Works 85-92* stands as a monumental work in the realm of electronic music. Its innovative blend of ambient textures with rhythmic elements not only redefined what ambient music could be but also paved the way for future generations of artists. While it may not appeal to everyone due to its experimental nature and lengthy runtime, its emotional depth and cultural significance are undeniable. In essence, Aphex Twin's debut is not merely an album; it is an experience that invites listeners to explore their inner landscapes through sound. Its legacy continues to resonate within the music industry today, making it an essential listen for anyone interested in the evolution of electronic music.

Ambient techno Jesus melts warm analog textures into hypnotic rhythms across these sacred selections that redefined what electronic music could be.

El nivel de influencia que tiene Aphex Twin en la escena de la electrónica es innegable y su debut "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" es la primera piedra en una carrera llena de victorias impresionantes. Considerando que gran parte de este LP se grabó de forma análoga, los sonidos que Richard James logra obtener son increíbles y marcan un estándar en el género del Ambient. Una verdadera obra de arte. Por favor, escúchelo.

extremely comfy music that truly soothes the soul, in different ways than anything else

Seminal

Perfect music to work to (meant as a big compliment rather than diss).

Ma odlično! Baš sam uživao od početka do kraja. Ne znam zašto nikad nisam (!) dublje zavirio i njegovu diskografiju, pogotovo jer ovaj album znam već neko vrijeme i bio mi je dobar Da ne duljim, čista desetka

10/10 Album koji ne moram ni poslusati da mu dam review, ali naravno iskoristit cu ovu priliku da ga pustim opet. A i ovo ce biti poduzi tekst. Znaci ovo je jedan od zbilja rijetkih albuma koji me glazbeno obiljezio i oblikovao moj ukus u ranoj dobi, posebno u ambijentalnoj i elektronskoj glazbi, i prvi album koji me ozbiljnije zainteresirao za elektroniku kad sam ga prvi put cuo sa samo 13 godina. Ocito nisam nastavio slusati muziku striktno u tom smjeru, sigurno ne primarno i bio mi je neopisivo zanimljiv i cudan u isto vrijeme, ali sam se konstantno vracao tom przenom cd-u jer mi je davao osjecaj koji do tada nisam valjda nikad dozivio s glazbom. Kao da sam otkrio jedan sasvim novi svijet, odvojen od svega sto sam dosad cuo, kombinacija zvukova za koje nisam znao da uopce postoje i mogu ici skupa, i generalno osjecaj je bio da sam cuo nesto sto nisam trebao cuti (u najboljem smislu) i bas mi je probudio maštu. S druge strane, nisam ga bas s kim imao komentirati jer ni rijecim nisam znao prepricati zasto mi se svidja. A realno doci tadasnjoj ekipi, igrat gameboy u kvartu i prepricavat ovakav album mi ni tada nije imalo smisla :D A sve to se otprilike odvijalo istih godina kad sam htio humpati televizor dok sam gledao Christinu Aguileru i bio, onako, tinejđerski kritican prema bilo kojoj glazbi osim one koju slusam na svom cd playeru. A dosao sam do tog cd-a tako da je jedan nesto stariji frend to imao od svog frenda koji je bio DJ u to vrijeme (sa svojih 18 godina) u karlovcu, sebi je kupio original i mislio je ovaj przeni baciti, ali je nekako zavrsio, sva sreca, kod mene. Tako da je ovaj album bio moj mali personal hidden gem kojeg sam "laštio" u tajnosti, slusao ga periodicno i divio mu se svako-tolko. Ovo je mali backstory i train of thought kojeg nisam puno ispravljao dok ovo pisem, a sada da malo o samom izdanju. Aphex Twin mi je jedan od artista koji jednostavno ima previse toga izdano da bi ga pratio, i da stvar bude jos kompliciranija, pod puno pseudonima. Ali ovo mu slovi kao jedan od najpoznatijih izdanja i meni osobno najsmisleniji od svega sto ima, barem sto se tice nekog rasporeda i feelinga kojeg imam kad slusam album u cjelosti. Ima tu tendenciju nazivati stvari sa random imenima, neki put se cini kao da nasumicno odabere fajlove sa laptopa i samo ih odluci staviti na album, ili mu se macak prosece po tipkovnici. I neka druga izdanja koja ima pod A.T. su mu dobra, ali mi je vise za izdvojit par stvari sa svakog i slozit kompilaciju. Ovdje mi je svaka stvar dobra, jedna ili dvije su mi mozda manje drage od ostatka ali kao cjelina mi savrseno pasu skupa. Malo sam pisao o melodijama i glazbi ovdje (iako je elektronika u pitanju, pa ono, cemu u detalje secirati tako nesto) i vise o sentimentalnosti ovog albuma, ali bit je da mi je ovo svjeze i jako dobro i danas. Bas me razeselilo kad sam ga vidio na popisu i s guštom cu mu dati prvu desetku. Đihaaa!

Been a while since I've listened to Aphex Twin, but I'll welcome any excuse to go back. This is a long compilation style album spanning his work from 85-92, which is wild considering he was only 14 in 1985. Not really what I typically associate with the term "ambient," but who really cares. Opens with Xtal that has a dancey vibe and vaporous atmosphere with fuzzy edges and warm bleeding synth lines. It's a similar sound that Burial applies; however, far brighter in overall tone. Tha descends deeper into tunnel-dwelling territory driven by a distant heartbeat bass and drum machine click that sounds like it is emanating from an adjacent room. All the while, angelic synths grace in and out along with distant incoherent shimmering vocal samples. The effect is nearing transcendent -- beautiful. Has a similar structure to some more modern Four Tet work. Ageispolis has a nice hip-hop inspired beat carried largely by the thump of a warm 808. Were it not for the aural + bleeping synths, this would feel right at home backing a Beastie Boys song. Went heads down on work for a bit there, but came back to for the deeply unsettling Hedphelym. Stomping bass with warbling synths going in and out of tune create an eerie vibe. While I didn't have the ability to give a fully focused review, I absolutely love this album. While there isn't a central thread tying everything together, the individual songs and textures are wonderful throughout. High 4 to soft 5 depending on the day... Erring on the high side today -- Like a 9.2 or something.

Ενα απτα αγαπημενα μου αλμπουμ ολων των εποχων.

A masterpiece of electronic and ambient music that stands up to any album in 2024. 5/5

Beautiful album.

The GOAT. It’s incredible how these sounds and textures were produced in the 80s.

Aphex Twin? On a lazy sunday? You spoil me. I know this album already, and will be giving it a score I think it's deserved since I first listened to it after having a DnB and Skrillex inspired Dubstep phase. One of the albums that inspired me to form more of a catalogue than what I and others in my niche already knew. 9.5/10

Ok, my strong feeling here is that if you're going to put Aphex Twin in this list, this is the wrong album. 'Selected Ambient Works Vol 2' is a lucid dreamscape. The tracks eschew traditional titles and each have vague pictures attached via a cryptic key. 'drukqs' is a twisted, chaotic jungle pushed to its breaking point and intercut with strange prepared piano tracks. 'The Richard D James Album' is a dark humor-tinged and deeply experimental but with enough pop qualities that he thought he could get on Top of the Pops. Aphex Twin is deeply weird and a fascinating artist. This album doesn't do his legacy justice. It's arguably the safest album though. It's probably the only Aphex Twin release you could put on at a party. Others would have your friends either too focused on the music to socialize or looking everywhere for an excuse to leave, depending on their styles. 'SAW 85-92' is still a great album though. The style of chilled out ambient techno was pretty different than anything out there. It's techno but not to dance to. It's ambient but more engaging. If the title is to be believed, Richard James started writing these ages around age 14. He was heavily involved with the music scene of Cornwall, whose dramatic landscapes often seep into the music. He would later be surrounded by various myths, some surely made up by James himself. He recorded in a disused bank vault, he bought an old tank to keep on his front lawn, he DJed with sandpaper, he went deaf and played music by smelling the grooves on records (that one was obviously one of his stranger jokes). Do yourself a favor and listen to some of Aphex Twin's later work in addition to this. Love it or hate it, it's definitely interesting. There's never been another artist quite like him. I'm giving this one 5 stars on the strength of his entire discography, since I only have one album to rate.

Very influential, quite enjoyable

One of my all time favorites. The follow up album is even better.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is the debut album from Aphex Twin, the on-stage moniker for Richard D. James. This is a brilliant work of electronic music, and the beginning of perhaps the longest and most influential career in electronic music. If the title is accurate, some of these tracks were composed when James was fourteen. These songs feature techno rhythms and structures - the album was on many "best of dance albums" from the year and the decade - but played into an ambient sound space. The result is beautiful dance music, of a meditative sense and feel. Through his career, James played in a incredibly wide range of styles of electronic music; he is one of the artists credited with adding breadth to the genre.

why didn't i listen to Aphex Twin before?

I don’t care how long you’ve been listening to electronic music, or how old, or young you are, this is a must listen to album for any fan of electronic music. This is a “know your roots” type album, and I think that’s why this is such a great album that should be on everyone’s list if they are new to electronic music. These tracks are already 30+ years old, and it has definitely stood the test of time, and this is a album that I know I’ll probably be going back to every now of than in 20 years from now.

very good sound

Epic

Me and this album have many memories, chilling with friends, post party early mornings, late night gatherings. Sheer ambient bliss. It’s not for everyone but for me it’s my go to album to find that zen place.

Very cool. Been getting some good ones lately. With ambient and electronic, I feel like you either have it or you don’t and this has it.

yes yes yes, so amazing.

An absolute classic, and an electronic music album for the ages.

Wonderfully inventive. Amazing how modern the sounds are for the time. Beautiful composition and chill vibe. Aphex Twin walked so that 21st century music could run.

Just lovely.

An outstanding debut into the world of ambient techno. A surprise and a revelation.

Just amazing. 5. Can listen to it in so many ways. If seminal was an album.

Great Ambient/Space Music….9/10

Amazing electronic music that sounds so fresh. It has not aged a bit and is spot on all of the time.

Com tempo e maturidade, fui capaz de ter inteligência par curtir a criatividade da construção sonora com as camadas eletrônicas. Assim, o disco se tornou um dos meus preferidos.

WAUW Wat een trip is dit album zeg, sowieso EINDELIJK een elektronisch album! En wat voor een is dit meteen zeg... Tuurlijk is dit een bekend album, maar ik heb het eerlijk gezegd nog nooit echt geluisterd en ik ben nu ontzettend blij dat ik dat heb gedaan. Het is een echte trip en hoewel niet elk nummer even goed werkt vind ik het wel echt een vernieuwend album. Ik heb het album geluisterd op mn speakers in de woonkamer en die hebben ook wel echt bijgedragen aan het luisterplezier. Elke toon komt zo mooi binnen en het is als een soort elektronisch jazz album bijna. Bedenk dat dit album uit 1992 kwam en dat sommige nummers als in 1985 gemaakt zijn!!!! Dit zou nu nog steeds een vernieuwend album zijn als het uitkwam. En hoewel ik zeg dat niet alles werkt vind ik het in zn geheel zo ontzettend vet en interessant dat dit voor mij gewoon 5 sterren is. Fantastisch en ik kijk nu al uit naar meer elektronische albums! FAVO: Xtal, Tha, Pulsewidth, Ageispolis, Heliosphan, We Are the music makers, Schottkey 7th path, Ptolemy, Delphium, Actium

Love her

פצצתי

I listened to this album around a year ago when doing a short-lived YouTube review show. I liked it at the time, but I feel like I enjoyed it much more this time around. It is that super mellow type of electronic music. IDM feels like such a pompous descriptor (intelligent dance music) but I guess this is was it probably comes under. The music is meditative and is that auditory Ritalin that I also found with Boards Of Canada. I definitely need to listen to this more often.

I fuckin love this album

Great album. Very detailed if you choose to listen closely but also just has a great overall atmosphere. Could be played running, on a long drive or at a club. This album really is just weaves its way into a life soundtrack very easily. Equal parts club and ambient. Alien and analog. I don't know why I write reviews but highlights for me are: Pulsewidth, Xtal, Tha, I, Heliosphan, Hedphelym and Actium but it's a good overall album listening experience.

Sjukt bra blippblopp-album. Han lyckas få till väldigt intressanta trummor, fina melodier och framförallt ett mycket unikt sound. Just denna platta tycker jag har ett speciellt sound som är svårt att beskriva. Omslaget passar iallafall känslan. Väldigt fint. Aphex Twin är en av de bästa inom elektronisk musik och det var kul att lyssna på denna skiva en gång till.

Belter of a record. Constant companion throughout the stoner years. Still listened to now. Proudest moment of fatherhood yet when daughter 1 returned home with a vinyl copy from Rough Trade. We raised her good.

First listened to and liked as a stoned teenager. Then probably didn’t listen to it for 20 years or so, and hasn’t really left my regular play list since. It’s hard to describe but I just find it kind of dreamlike, intensely relaxing, a bit like a warm hug really. Ageispolis in particular must be one of my favourite songs ever (that baseline!). My issue is that I’ve never found anything else like it to add to the playlist. Aphex Twin’s other work is obvs quite the opposite, maybe Boards of Canada’s frost album gets a bit close. All help welcome!

I don't remember when I heard this first but feels like it has always been around. Still chills me out after all these years, you can't ask for more than that. Ambient Techno doesn't quite do it justice, it's just the future. I like the idea he created a few songs to clear the raves he was DJing at but not sure that would work with this. Up there with Sabre as as a game changer for my listening tastes, genius.

Could listen to this all day, and feel good the whole time.

set the bar for electronic music

My kinda music. Loved this. A very nice long bus journey to work. Perfect accompaniment for reading Flash comics. Really enjoyed.

bangers. on bangers. on bangers. peak edm. love it.

Nowhere near as terrifying as some of his other work, this collection of ambient tracks are the perfect entry point for the genius that is Aphex Twin. The glitch is still here, it's just not a worm burrowing into your skull, it's a butterfly landing on your ear. Best Tracks: Xtal; Ageispolis; Ptolemy

Classic album. While I am a bigger fan of Selected Works II, this one is still a great listen from time to time. 4.5/5

Genius. Reliable sends me elsewhere

These tracks were recorded be Richard D James when he was between the ages of 14 and 21. A lot of it on homemade equipment. It's a new take on the ambient idea that features a beat instead of just a background soundscape. This is also one of the pivitol albums of electronic music. Each track has an organic feel to it and it feels almost otherworldly, paying homage to the electronic pioneers that came before but taking it to a whole new place. My favorite track is Ageispolis. I love the bass melody and the trick beat that almost makes it sound like the track is slowing down when the tone drops. That being said, the whole album is a masterpiece to me without a weak moment on it. Each track is unique enough to keep the interest going and once I start with the opening notes to Xtal, I have to play the whole thing.

I've been listening to this album for a while, but I watched a YouTube doc on Aphex Twin in the last year that did a lot to help me understand the significance of this album. It really is one of those foundational works that helps change the direction of a genre. I don't like the label Intelligent Dance Music, but I do like a lot of the music that has been released under that moniker. This album is the genesis of that movement, and an excellent work in its own right 5/5

My love. Favourite

Vuonna 92 julkaistuksi teokseksi... hehh.... aika paljon edellä aikaansa.. ehkä 3v... EI VOI LLA ALBUMI YHTÄ KYMMENKUNTA VUOTTA EDELLÄ::: muistakaa..... Does not sound like the best of 2000s.. Everyone catched up..

I've always enjoyed how unique this album sounds and feels. Varied and uncomfortable. The dissonance on Hedphelym is truly unsettling.

Probably one of the most influential best records my earholes have ever been fortunate enough to receive sonically.

the only album my da ever forbade me from playing on the stereo because 'it's not real music, it's just noise, it's doing me head in, would you not just put on some of them radiohead lads again, at least there's a bit of a melody in their stuff' Love you da but there’s more to music than the Fureys

This is some pretty good lofi music

AWESOME!!!!!!

Nice to come back and meet this. I'd give this six out of five stars every day of the week. By coincidence, I've been listening to an IDM essentials playlist on Spotify, and was idly musing to myself yesterday that one out of every four songs seems to be courtesy of Apex or derivatives therein (Polygon Window, for example.) Let's ignore the presumptions, both loaded and imagined, behind the name, and acknowledge a basic fact: whatever the IDM label represents, it exists (not "it was created") thanks to this album. Up there with In A Silent Way, the Breaking and Entering OST, Music Has The Right To Children, and 76:14 as the albums I'd give my first born away in order to keep. (My first born is 17. If you knew him, you'll understand that this isn't quite as drastic as it sounds :)

Ich wußte garnicht wie geile smoothe Ambient Sachen er gemacht hat

Yes. I will be buying this album next trip to the record store.

Loved it. Girlfriend also enjoyed it a lot. Really forward sounding considering these were produced and recorded from 1985-92 (if it were to be believed — a question we must ask ourselves when it comes to Aphex Twin). The combination of the melodies and the ambient sounds gave it a really futuristic feel, sort of something one would find during the early to mid 00's. (I'm most reminded of cellphone ringtones). Fun, great, unique, varied, forward-thinking.

It looks like this was quite a divisive one, but I really enjoy this album and put it on regularly. It might be one for Aphex Twin fans as it’s so interesting to hear the origins of his style. Richard James was born in 71 so he must’ve made some of these tracks when he was 14, which to me shows how he has a unique talent in making music.

classic

(Mai ascoltato prima) Super figo, mind blowing, sound super interessanti che mi fanno venire voglia di creare qualcosa.

top

Rhythm and robots Strobe light pool party all night Set program to dance

Aphex Twin's influence on electronic music is such that anyone just picking up this record today in 2023 might not realize how special this album really was in 1992, because everything today sounds like this album. But it sounds that way because Aphex Twin showed the way to getting to this sound. It is not an exaggeration to say that after Kraftwerk, that one of the next huge leaps forward was Aphex Twin.

I am a fan of ambient, chill electronic music and rhis hits the spot. I know there are many who dislike this album but, if you share an interest with what I descrribed, I recommend at least a listen! I liked almost every track! Favorite Song(s): "Pulsewidth", "Green Calx", "Xtal"

Great songs to work to. Writing an essay, doing assignments, taking a quiz…I really enjoyed this.

Looking through the reviews on this website, it seems people are broadly split into two camps on this album, one of the more controversial that I've received so far in this experiment. On the one hand, you have the people gob smacked that an album of "elevator music," boring beats, ambient noises, somehow made the list of the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Leave This Plane Of Being. On the other hand, you have people who are enraptured by the beauty of these floating synth melodies; these sparse, driving beats; the ethereal samples that come in like they were beamed from another planet. You have the people who recognize that this is one of the most monumental albums of the 90s, nay, 20th century music. You might be able to guess that I am in the latter camp. And we are the dreamers of dreams.

Perfekt

Seiner Zeit vorraus

Thank you, inventor of music

Easily a great as far as 90s electronic music goes, and I feel like it still holds up remarkably well 30 years on. Some of it more than others perhaps, I still feel it deserves a 5 though. Xtal is a truly beautiful song, and there's definitely more here to love.

Going in nervous. I appreciate this band, but they can be a little intense. Ok, I take it back. This has been great. Might be their most listenable album. Ambient is the correct descriptor. It’s upbeat, easy to keep in the background, easy to work to. Honestly, I am really enjoying this album. Another nice surprise off this list. Me likey.

Мне понравилось. Очень хороший вариант для фоновой музыки во время учебы.

Genius. Beautiful

Stone classic. Infinitely re-listenable. Groundbreaking.

Hedphelym too scary

The best. Just the absolute best.

Not perfect but feels wrong not to give it a 5. Changed my brain when I first heard it

What more can I say?

Интересно, как я пришла к электронной музыке и эмбиенту в частности. Я все еще не понимаю, как рейвить под эмбиент, но пространно чиллить дома, на пляже или в другом приятном месте - супер. После школы маскелиаде, естественно, узнала про aphex twin и каково было их значение в электронной музыке. Но никогда не слушала альбом. Однозначный лайк, три или четыре трека теперь в избранном.

meh

I love this thing. First listened to it a while back and it has stuck with me since, and I’m glad I revisited it here! Not a single bad track on here for me. A classic for the ages!

Every so often I discover an album that changes my perception of what music could be. This was one of those, a techno record that aims on being hazy, nostalgic, and calming. Yes, there's energy and excitement, which is what sets it apart from other ambient or New Age records, but the sci-fi elements give it a very alien feel, as if this music didn't come from Earth. It's unique and offers plenty of memorable tracks that take their time and never feel rushed. By far, the highlight though is the incredible production. I'm not sure how to describe it, but there are so many layers to the songs that it feels like they occupy a three-dimensional space. As in, some effects are subtle, quiet, and barely noticeable, others are a constant, clear prescence, and others just randomly come out of nowhere, like the bass in "Ageispolis" blowing up my subwoofer. Meanwhile, you have "Green Calx" with beautiful tones in the background but all these hard goopey noises and cartoon effects that come out of nowhere, forming this strange but welcoming dynamic. Or "Schottkey 7th Path" that sounds like some massive chasm. There's the fear-inducing "Hedphelym" that sounds it was recorded in the creepy basement undearneath a club. Every track is memorable and I wouldn't cut anything. This is one of those safe albums I return to when I'm looking to chill and vibe. And when I'm in that state of mind and mood, let the sounds fill my imagination.

JEES tällästä paskaa LISÄÄ.. hallinnoitsijat kuulolle.. mahtavaa elektroniikka pliip ploop ei osata edes instrumentteja soittaaesque musiikkia.. maltilla odotan osia 1-84 sekä 93+.... rohkeasti vaan näitä lisää liukuhihnalle. made in 1992 and it still sounds like its from the 70's...incredible...the human mind is incredible... we are the music makers

I listened to this while driving home at night in cool summer air and while high and those were probably the two best ways to enjoy this album. I’ve been looking forward to this one because it’s widely regarded as the best ambient album and it’s a genre I was never that into. Fortunately, It was by far the best non-jazz ambient album I’ve ever heard. The tracks kept me engaged for the whole length and I didn’t get tired of them by the end, which is exceedingly rare for me in this genre. I needed up listening to this most of the day and I realized that it’s not an album to listen to for 70 minutes straight; it’s something you reliably use whenever you need it for as long as you need it and it’s perfect for any situation from walks to sleeping to driving to doing drugs.

GRAAAAH I LOVE RICHARD D JAMES Favorite Tracks: Xtal, Pulsewidth, We Are the Music Makers, Ptolemy 5/5

Acid come down memories. 30 years on I still love this glitchy masterpiece and the fact that listening to it came still relax me or put me on edge. A work of genius

I still hear SAW85-92 everywhere today. And even still, this source material to that influence sounds every bit as original 30 years later. The fact that Richard James put together some of these songs as early as 1985, when he was just 14 years old with homemade instruments and while holed up in the Irish countryside, is astounding. It inflates the mythos around this artist and this album to make it the pioneering work in electronic music that it has become. 5 stars.

best album of all time

What just happened?

I've been a big fan of Aphex Twin for a long time. This album was good to listen to in full. I found it hard to pinpoint a particular track that I liked since I enjoyed the whole lot.

Outrageous that this is on the list rather than SAW II - I shall correct that by talking about SAW II instead. In my early teens, at the start of properly getting into music, and deep in the grip of "only metal" puritanism, I encountered a copy of SAW II at a friend's house - it belonged to his elder brother who wasn't around that day, so it existed as an artifact apparently portalled in from an alternate dimension. No explanatory text anywhere, no track listing - unless the weird symbols on the disks corresponded to the extremely abstract textural photographs on the inlay booklet? I was entranced! Never seen something so alien! SAW II is to albums as the Codex Seraphinianus is to books! Anyway, SAW 85-92 is probably only a 4 star album, but I'm giving it a bump in honor of SAW II, and ambient electronica in general. Fave track - I liked the pounding "Schottkey 7th Path" this time around. DOOF DOOF DOOF DOOF

For both how much I enjoyed it and how much I think this impacted other artists and genres I enjoy

This is a near perfect electronic album to me. Really great for music in the background while working.

Brilliant. One of the first touchstones in electronica. Still sounds as amazing today as it must have in 92 (this was hard to get back in the day). Ambient music was not just sleepy chill at home music at the time, but could easily be played at the Rave. This album shows that. Brilliant stuff, hard to believe it came out in 92 and that some of it was recorded as early as 85 and all in his bedroom long before computers made it really easy. A revolutionary album on many fronts.

5 stars, amazing record.

👍👍

Creative an varied, spacious, innovative auditory landscapes. A real mood setter and masterpiece

This album introduced me to ambient music.

Just listen to it. A classic

Bits of the album probably bring it down to more of a 4.5/5 but the DNA of this album has had a massive impact on my tastes, and my life really (I work with synths all day). Always good to revisit.

perfekt att plugga till

I really like this album. Classic IDM/ambient house and techno. Standout tracks are Xtal, Tha, Pulsewidth, Ageispolis, Heliospan, We Are the Music Makers, Schottkey 7th Path, Ptolemy, Hedphelym, Delphium & Actium

4.7/5

Obviously 5 stars for one of the best electronic albums ever made (but note that the 1001 list has an extremely narrow range when it comes to electronic music).

Great album. Very chill and relaxing, but also has the grooves to keep it interesting.

Elsker, som den mandemanipulator jeg er :))))

From a fourteen year old prodigy to a twenty-one year old genius, these selected ambient works were, and remains, the perfect distillation of the essence of this multi-pseudonym phenom of electronic music. One of the many building blocks that holds together the current robust state and legacy of the genre that has informed and influenced many that has come its way, it is hard to imagine what the DNA would be like had this album not been compiled and sent out to the world. Good thing we've been hanging on tight in this wild rollercoaster ride for these last thirty years. We've all come to Daddy.

Tätä on vaikea kuvailla sanoin. Kuin jokin puuttuva palanen mielen syövereistä. Kuuntelemalla kaikki loksahtaa kohdalleen.

Ah mikä nautinto! Suorastaan upottavaa konemusaa genrensä mestarilta. 5/5

Did not expect this genre of music to be on the list. Quite enjoyed it.

I actually really like this one, 4.5

A good one to apply me newly developed ambient/psy/experimental electronica rating check which I formally dubbed the Doof Decision; that is, would I stop if I were to walk past this going off in the psy trance tent. Answer - yes. Result - 5 stars.

A classic album of electronica. It still sounds as fresh and as futuristic as it was in 1992. Amazing.

I think maybe I get electronic music now? This thing is alive. Morphing, molting, evolving before your very eyes/ears. A massive collection of music that never once drags. A gargantuan feat.

Ambient perfection

Loved this album from start to finish. Ambient well done is mesmerising !

YESSSS

slay

This is always a go to for me, superb ambient joy

Early on in music school I learned that if you want to sound like your influences, then you should listen to your influences influences. This wasn't tied to classical music or anything actually, as this tidbit came from my friend when I told him I want to sing like Eddie Vedder and he said "you should then try to sing like who Eddie Vedder wanted to sing like". It was really interesting to me. This group and album was one of the biggest influences on one of my biggest influences in music school, a guy named Payton MacDonald (and his music group called Alarm Will Sound). The group even has a full album of Aphex Twin covers and I think at some point they worked with Payton and/or he commissioned them to write music for him to perform. Because of that I feel like a sort of connected lineage to the group in inspiration. I love the album, I love their sound, and I'm just into it. The first track, "Xtal" carries so much emotion. Sometimes I think about how limited synths are and digital sounds altogether. They are innately robotic, innately inhuman. I know I'm wrong when I think that, but it pops up in my head sometimes. I think that the next time it does however I'll throw on "Xtal" and prove myself wrong. For videogame soundtracks I tend to write a lot of atmospheric synth music for in between scenes, and I think they capture the mood of "melancholic" really as good as you can do it. Overall, easy 5/5 for me. It's so much more than just an electronic music album.

Another of my all time favourite albums - end to end perfection - it sounds timeless despite the calendar range in the title, surprisingly chock full of hooks and soul for an ambient album - and perfectly paced and an absolute immaculate flow. This is definitely the album that I’d put on to fight a ‘meh’ - in productivity, focus or motivating - it’s just pumping enough to get me going and gentle enough to ease me into a good mood.

Wow very cool, saved!! Deffo gonna play this when trying to focus, I loved loads of tracks from this: Xtal, Tha, I, Ptolemy, Actium

It's been a long time I was this impressed with an album on first listen. I have always been aware of Aphex Twin, but never really listened to him. Until now. And it has opened up a whole new world of music. Maybe not all songs are of the same quality of Heliospan, Schottkey 7th Path or Ptolemy, but reading up I certainly see even more how genre defining this work is and where later Radiohead during their Kid A era got their inspiration. This is going to be played a lot more in the coming months and years.

Iconic album. Aged rather well too, which can't be said for most of electronic music of that period. It is not flashy, but it is really well made. Works great as a background music, but has enough details to be interesting if you are paying attention too. And it's influence is undeniable.

Superb ambient music!

Really funky, just noise and stuff

Wow I loved this. I’ve never been so happy to just close my eyes and have an album wash over me. Every song has its own bits of catchy rhythms or basslines that just keep them going, and somehow after ~80 minutes it doesn’t get old. 10/10

Very chill, very ambient

Siiiiiiiick

This album is incredible front to back. Always kind of aware of Aphex Twin and heard the music occasionally in the background, but never listened to a whole record front to back, this is just excellent. Obviously game changing.

Unabashed classic, sounds lightyears ahead of its time. Even if "Ambient" isn't really the genre to describe this music anymore since it's so exciting and filled with changes.

One of the greatest albums of all time

omfg absolute bangers through and through. what an artist

Classic

A masterpiece in ambient music. Can always put this album on and just feel better, chills me out. The opening bars to Xtal is some of the most peaceful music I know

Pas fan de l'électro mais j'ai bien aimé cet album.

A perfect album.

This album is so far ahead of its time that’s listening to it now still sounds fresh. Though I wouldn’t classify this as ambient, this music is certainly less harsh than some of Aphex Twin’s subsequent work. The influence this music has had across genres is staggering; it’s clear that Aphex Twin influenced Radiohead and inspired their Kid A era move to more electronic based music.

I am in love with this album

Fucking sick as g

Great ambient music

listen to them a lot. just really fucking interesting.

Great

Nervous about listening to this straight and sober on my way to work. Turns out it's still awesome.

The GOAT

if, hypothetically speaking, one were to have run an mp3 server back in the late-ish 90s, which might later have been found to be using 1% of one's university's ENTIRE bandwidth...and if onto that server, someone were to have uploaded track 1 off this album (xtal) - and if you'd known of mj. james' work, but hadn't really been all that into it, and then heard that track for the first time, and hearing it changed your whole perception of him as an artist and later helped you understand just how ahead of his time he actually was...well then, hearing it again all these years later would certainly bring back some memories. hypothetically. also, the rest of the album is also pretty damn amazing, too.

Very good sound. Ahead of its time

Das steht sicher nicht umsonst in meinem Regal

A personal fave! Love it.

always loved their work. reverbs with the universe

ugh i loved this, such a good bg to just going ab my day - will def be returning !!!

I compare all ambient albums to "Music for Airports." This album is okay, but it lacks the defining feature of Eno's compositions: beauty. When you really listen to Brian Eno's ambient work, it is lush and elegant in a way that this album is not. While this album is effective background music, it is not ambient music that I would seek out.

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Difficult orchestrations and really worked the base in my car.

Nice to work to

bleeps and bloops, but in a downtempo, really cool way

If you told me someone on SoundCloud released this yesterday I would believe you

Its nice ambient background music. If you like this, check out Flashbulb (one of Benn Jordan's pseudonyms)

3.5

Actually not awful to have on as background music

I enjoyed this far more than I expected. Really interesting soundscapes.

(76/100)

Wow! I did not expect to like this. I use to think that ambient meant boring (without actually listening to much of the genre). I was very wrong. I thought the 74 minute runtime would be a chore to get through, but it flew by. I get the hype. Favorite Track - Pulsewidth Least Favorite Track - Tha ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beautiful album, but a little out of my comfort zone. Did not know his earliest works, but dug his toned down songs compared to his later works.

Wow

The perfect soundtrack to the best afters you’d ever have

I would have loved to have heard this in 1993, and I wonder what I would have thought of it then. What else was happening around that time? Enigma? I liked them. Enya? Same. But that's really all I can remember with similar vibes. Anyway, in 2026, it's a lot of what I want in an ambient electronic record. Green Calx took an interesting turn away from "chill out" music, which breaks the immersion for me. Ptolemy and Hedphelym (which required a skip halfway through) were other tracks that didn't seem very "ambient" to me and took me out of the relaxed space the preceding tracks brought me to. It's really difficult for me to imagine someone 14 years old putting this together in the mid 80s. While I appreciate the ahead-of-its-time-ness and honestly, would consider it revolutionary, I can't help but wonder if this guy was like SUPER weird as a kid. I can't imagine someone so young basically writing the blueprints for what really wouldn't become a popular genre for 15 or more years. Truly incredible when you think about it. This would have been an easy 4 stars with the omission of the three previously mentioned tracks. In spite of those three, it'll still wind up at that rating, taking into account just how foundational this album was and how early it happened, sounding NOTHING like anything else at the time. ⭐⭐⭐.75

I liked this.

Nicely done

so excited for this one. <3 dreamy! dancy. vibey. was nodding along in the first minute. driving beats. transporting. it's amazing humans can produce such fun, interesting art - music and sounds. Tha! ahh the bass in Ageispolis hahaa. bouncee. the mix between soft and hard. I going into Green Calx. it's fun when the 90s sounds come out. sometimes I can't tell what year this is from and others I'm like, ayyy. haha. listening to the whole album was interesting, I think after awhile sonically .. fatiguing just a little bit for some reason? but that thought is broken up by trying to figure out how certain sounds were made. over all really fun, discovery, and vibing.

Unexpectably exciting to me for electronic music

listened some of it throughout the last few months/year, but great to listen through all the way

Nice chill tracks.

Absolutely loved this. Perhaps not a record I would go back to over and over, but as the soundtrack to my working day, it's great.

Listened to so many times it’s imprinted on my brain.

Is this the one with QKThr? No? Well, shoot. Atmospheric as heck. But Aphex Twin employs such an overwhelming variety of moods that the term "atmospheric" ceases its ability to do the music justice. Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is intense, unabashed, freeform. Not to mention exceptionally modern-sounding for pre-21st century – nay, pre-90s (mostly) – output. I'm more forgiving of Aphex Twin's work than other electronic instrumentalists because of its resemblance to certain mid-period Radiohead songs (Kid A/mnesiac era). Particularly the likes of I Might Be Wrong, Like Spinning Plates, Packt Like Sardines..., and Treefingers. Though, like (most) Radiohead music, it would be a stretch to call most of this "ambient" as Aphex Twin does here. The music here focuses pretty intensely on melody, for better or worse, and as a rule of thumb melody and ambience are mutually exclusive. The melodies are surprisingly catchy, though. A big shoutout to the gloopy synths in Green Calx. I understand why the track has comparatively fewer listens, but you have to admire the plorpage and glorpage. Ptolemy is much the same way – that bassline splits itself between the "goofy" hair and the "musically inventive" hair. And I have huge respect for tracks that, despite being long and repetitive, pass by in the blink of an eye. All the tracks kind of do that, though I suppose that's to be expected when background-listening. There are enough little details scattered about – electronic drum fills, instrumental switch-ups, variations on motifs – to tide you over. But you would absolutely get bored if you gave this your undivided attention. 4/5 Key tracks: Xtol, Ageispolis, Ptolemy

I feel cooler giving this a 4

For Richard D James, this is as basic as you get. Every album, EP, or single after this album gets wilder and wilder and I don't just mean by the naming of his songs. Is this a classic? Yes. Does this deserve to be his highest rated album? Hell no. This album is the base to everything else he has ever put out and it isn't his strongest but far from his worst too. I get it these songs are great to do homework to and other things but if I am being honest the album is a bit clunky (I am aware it is Selected Ambient Works), but that doesn't really defend it from the shifts in tone and style from song to song for me.

Electrónica divertida. Me gustó

Yes, please

Would have made five stars as a single album.

I didn't get much time to listen to this today, but what I did hear pricked my ears up. I haven't always enjoyed the music of Aphex Twin. In my university halls he was revered by the hardcore drug-takers as some sort of electronic prophet. Under these terms, I think he's slightly overrated. Good, very good maybe. But overrated.

Knowing who Aphex Twin is makes this a lot easier. And considering these were made when he was a young teen is quite impressive. Aphex Twin is who your favorite hip hop artist should be sampling. A lot of similar work with Flying Lotus. This work is exactly that, ambient works. His more finalized productions are superb, a true musical genius.

ooo, techno: Dum-dum-dum-dum-digadigadigadigadigadigadigadiga ...no...wait, ambient techno: ~~**~-|~~*._~~~~**...''~~~~**~-|~~*._~~~~**...''~~**~

Is that the smoke detector beep in Green Calx? This is another example where I’ve seen this album a bunch of places and told myself I would get to it eventually. And yeah, those nerds over at rateyourmusic were right. This is pretty great. These beeps and boops are entertaining. Favorite songs are Pulsewidth, Ageispolis, Ptolemy, and Actium.

I enjoy aromatic beats every now and then.

the big one, most beloved. great album, but again... there's better ones by the same artist imo lol

just a very well done album can't go wrong with it. was listening to it while working dont have any favs just QUALITY

#315/1001. Although I prefer SAW 2, I was thinking of giving this 5 just because it stands out from the mediocrity of the list. But then it just seems to bw going on and repeating. A lot of it is not really ambient, is it?

A belter!

Oh, this is incredibly ahead of its time for the early 90s! Green Calx and Ptolemy were my favorites, I think? Not normally a fan of the genre, but this was well-made and influential, and an enjoyable listen too.