Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I enjoy ambient music and frequently listen to it whilst working. I find music without lyrics so much less distracting. Having said that, it's possible to listen to music without actually hearing it. I listened to this album 3 times on rotation last week, and couldn't describe a single track! Shout out to Die Antwoord!
An enjoyable-ish blur of background sound - kind of reminded me of the boops and beeps music that sometimes played in the A-team office. Is it a submarine? Is it a robot? Nobody knows. Nobody cares. Highlight was finding Ageispolis which is sampled for Ugly Boy by Die Antwoord - who knew!? not me.
You're supposed to zone out. Favorite track: Xtal 3.5/5
It was a vibe
finally generatore proposed me techno.
Sounded like a kid with a casio keyboard.
Against all my reservations against late 80s/early 90s electro/techno music, this one is more than just very decent. It's called Ambient Works for a reason - if you need to do some work with not too intrusive music in the background, this is one of the things you might listen to. I know I would. 3.5/5
Ah, I have this as a vinyl reissue. It's an album of fairly noodly techno ambient. I like it, but I'm not sure it's a truly great album. Possibly fairly influential, but if pushed, I'd prefer Plastikman.
This album was interesting.
- war irgendwie eine Mischung zwischen geiler Experience und nervtötend - teilweise coole Tracks dabei, die mich in einen Tunnel geholt haben, aber eben auf der anderen Seite auch Tracks, die mich genervt haben und mich voll rausgeholt haben - irgendwo zwischen 2-3
I saw this album and I let our an audible groan. I'm so sick of all the electronic music this generator is pushing. But I listened and it's pretty good for what it is. It's music to listen to softly in your office so you can concentrate and focus.
Ambient noise. Exactly what is says/
Exactly what I expected from ambient electronic music: boring, repetitive, and long.
The use of the word Ambient here confuses me because some of these tracks don't fade into the background, nor do they feel fitting for any room or space I'd be able to relax in. I much prefer Drukqs, but this is enjoyable in the sense that I know this guy is a smart musician, but it's not enjoyable in the sense that I want to listen to it a bunch. If I only heard this, I would expect to not like any of his stuff. I wonder how many musicians on this list I've written off because Dimery represented them poorly by choosing a less than representative album? For example, Bad Brains I know had a great debut album, but if all I heard was the one presented to me on this list, I'd never expect to enjoy anything else by them. Anyway, this gets a 3/5, but mostly because this is my only chance to rate Richard D James.
Interesting
It just went on a bit, didn't it? 5.3/10
i know this album is lauded by critics and fans alike, but i can’t say i fully understand the hype. it’s well made, and i don’t find it annoying, but i just don’t fully get it ig
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.
I’m beginning to feel like I missed out on understanding any appeal of electronica because I wasn’t doing E at clubs in the 90s like apparently everyone who contributed to this list. Every fucking record sounds the fucking same.
I really enjoyed this! 4/5
Lovely
I don't dislike it. It says it's ambient and it fulfills its brief well. I'm sure its been played in wanky coffee shops and salons up and down the land countless times.
This is the kind of music best enjoyed as background music with a seemingly endless loop of electronic rhythms and beats, much like a video game or a sci-fi film. Ambient is right, and the fact the title indicates this is selected works from 1985-1992, I wonder how it can all sound the same over a seven year period? I will admit, I didn't mind having this play in the background as I went about my day, but I can't imagine actually sitting down and critically focusing in on the music. This is not to say I wouldn't listen again, because I probably will, but at a distance.
Grating background noise. Not a fan.
Never really listened to this band before, and this was not really what I expected them to sound like. Very boring.
Chill electronic album. Some enjoyable tracks for sure, like Delphium.
okay yannick this might be fire. Okay this is actually gas asf yeah it's fire
bleeeeeh
There's genres where I've talked before about how hard I can find it to discuss them. Jazz, for instance: I often feel like discussion of it requires an ear for and knowledge of music theory I just can't get a grasp on. Or there's rap: thanks to my AuDHD brain, I struggle paying attention to or understanding lyrics, and since that's rap's main appeal — at least as I understand it — I'm left at a disadvantage. And, y'know, those are both personal problems, and I do try my hardest to engage with these genres despite them. But then you have the one genre represented on this list I don't doubt not too little people have a problem with discussing: ambient music. Now, this isn't my first rodeo with ambient music. We've gotten a lot of stuff before that's leaned into the genre, and particularly we've even gotten one of its most landmark albums: MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS. Heck, on my own time, I'll admit to being one of the rare people who doesn't mind Pink Floyd's THE ENDLESS RIVER all too much. The problem with discussing this kind of music, though, just comes along with its entire goal, purpose and reason for being. Ambient music, more than any other genre, is wallpaper music. More than anything else, it's meant to color space audibly and unnoticed. You are not meant to engage with it like you would any other album — in fact, you're probably missing the point entirely if you are. I mean, you wouldn't judge wallpaper with the same standards you would any classical painting. Why are you even looking at the wallpaper in the first place, even? And that's not to say there can't be anything notable in ambient music, or that it's impossible to quantify or judge it. Ugly wallpaper **does** exist, after all. And heck, I **like** a good bit of ambient music here and there. It's just that I doubt the average layman can really tell the difference from one swatch to the next unless it's just **that** egregious — perhaps myself included. Which brings us to this Aphex Twin album. Now, I don't have very many preconceptions about Aphex Twin himself, besides that he made "Windowlicker", he has a funny grin, and that Kanye West stole one of his piano lines once. The most relevant thing I'm coming in here with is just the knowledge that this album and its follow-up are pretty highly regarded in the world of ambient music. Certainly, a lot of people in the Discord group I'm in are crazy about it; one person has given this album some 800 plays between all of its songs. Thus, of course, I was left with the most simple and obvious question: what does Aphex Twin do with ambient music that's so special? In short: techno music. There's a lot of techno influence here. Mostly, it comes in the form of these drum machine beats you have underscoring the tracks. You know, the album is still largely composed of the airy, free-floating synths I've come to expect from ambient music, fading in and out of view — and they're as pretty and relaxing as ever — but then you've got these driving beats pushing them along, and... Honestly, it's interesting how much such a simple addition as that can do to these songs. It leads to a different feel entirely than if it was just the synths on their own, or if these were just techno songs. Throw in the occasional unusual synth on top of that... Yeah, there's clearly stuff to dig into here. I've gotta be real about my tastes, though. As ambient music... Mm, it just doesn't quite do it entirely for me. Like, the techno beats are what make this album, but they're also what have me thinking I might not return to this too often. Y'know, other people harp on other ambient music for being sleep-inducing and uninteresting, but, like, that's honestly the sort of thing I come to ambient music for. I like my ambient music relaxing; y'know, something to zone out to. Focusing on nothing else but these pretty synths and letting them wash me away from the world. Adding a four-on-the-floor "tss-tss-tss-tss" beat to these kinds of tracks, yeah, kind of takes away from that appeal a little. No matter how good they are, and I do think these are very good, they just won't match up in my mind to Eno's MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS or, heck, even the recording of wine glasses Pink Floyd made. Honestly, I think I'd be more into Aphex Twin's second volume of ambient tracks, despite its insane run time of 156 minutes. Like, jeez, at least this thing is only 71 minutes... Still, though, my personal preferences aside, I can appreciate how this pushed ambient music forward. It's a statement that wallpaper can and should be considered in the same breath as more classical, traditional pieces. I mean, just because something was made to fill space doesn't mean it's not art and isn't worth consideration, y'know? Like radio jingles or bumpers on TV: artists still made those, and they shouldn't be counted out just because they didn't make big, important rock albums. I'm not saying you'll find absolute beauty or the secret life in any of them, but still. If nothing else, you gotta appreciate the effort to make life a little less empty, eh?
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.
Boring ambient electronic album
Bättre än jag trodde
Not for me.
Mind-numbingly boring.
If I'm going to listen to this for an hour I'd better get a plane ticket at the end
IDM is such a funny genre name. Intelligent Dance Music. Yeah im dancing...in a smart way. Are they dancing to this at the book club or something? Sorry got a little distracted. Yeah it's okay. I don't really understand the hype though
Overrated
As background noise while I was doing other things, this album was a good fit for that. Yet I couldn’t listen to this album without actively doing something else. It’s not interesting enough to be the only focus. Also it’s a bit too long at 1 hour and 14 minutes.
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.
It was much better than i expected it.
Ambient, indeed. Like a video game soundtrack.
Had a few interesting segments, but otherwise just sounded like someone messing around on a Casio keyboard in the late 80’s
Ok
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 fantastic set of electronic music. Often cited as a masterpiece. I like it a lot and could be 5 stars in the future.
ну это классика электронного звука
Great album to listen to while programming. Provides great background music.
A must listen.
Really nice chill ambient. 4 stars
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.
It's super repetitive but I think I got into what it was trying to do, this weird trance ethereal kinda vibe I can dig, not one for all the time but deffo ones for certain times
Tar mig inte igenom hela plattan. Sjukt dåligt.
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.
During the course of this project, I come to realize this I’m not a fan of electronic music. This is because of two things; they are long and they don’t have any content that justifies their length. It all seems to be made to be background music and I’m not a fan of this “set it, then forget it” music. So here comes this album. I heard of Aphex Twin, but I never really heard Aphex Twin. It clocks in at over an hour. It literally states that it’s ambient music in the title. It’s practically everything that I would hate about electronic music. There’s just one issue: I somehow ended up liking it. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s all background music. Even the title says that it is. But there’s something within the songs that somehow keep my attention. My brain was constantly being stimulated and the album never felt boring, unlike other electronic albums. I think Aphex Twin cracked some kind of code to make me enjoy it. Does this change my opinion on electronic as a whole? No. If anything, now I known for certain electronic is just music that’s literally made to be forgettable. I just think Aphex Twin proved to be a worthy exception. Favorite track: Pulsewidth Other hits: Xtal, Green Calx, Ptolemy, Actium, Schottkey 7th Path, Delphium
I expected a VERY different experience with this album. I assumed the title was a deception, or a tongue-in-cheek name meant to point out just how little ambience there would be in its tracks. I thought this because my only exposure to Aphex twin to this point was a song called "Come to Daddy," which is...very different from this. As far as ambient music goes, this is very effective. I found myself often spacing out, letting my mind drift as I listened. As far as I'm concerned, that's what ambient music is supposed to be good for - going unnoticed. That made it a little difficult to select standout tracks, funnily enough. This was cool, especially considering what I expected from it. I don't really know what else to say. It's always difficult to review instrumental albums, at least for me. Three stars. Standout Tracks: Xtal, Ptolemy
This album was ok, definitely a "Background" listening album.
I've listened to this before when I went through a huge electronic music phase, but it's been a while since I last listened to it. It never really clicked with me before, but I enjoyed it this time. I've been trying to give albums ratings based on how "good" I think it is """objectively""" based on """""vibes,""""" so even though I only kind of liked it, I'm giving it a 4.
Almost feels like content. I hoped for better because his electronic is so cool.
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.
Sure, ok.
Reminded me of the xx albums, just ambient type music. Not much going on.
6/10 - It was ambient. Which means not much really happened and it faded into the background as it is going to. It's aphex twin what else is there to sy
A bit long but I thought it was pretty good
new music for me, relaxing. But i don't think that i'll listen it often
I've never forgiven him for the Window Licker video. And I never will......
nice electronic ambient beats to wash over you I admit, I'd never heard any Aphex Twin before, but I like it
okay but not for me
I don’t even dislike it. It’s just 2X longer than I have the patience for. Maybe that says more about me than the album itself.
Une certaine idée de l'enfer.
As expected
Not my thing but I get it.
I liked its it’s it was a new sound for me
5/5
Dope jams. Loved it.
ambient molto liquida
Certainly ambient. Didn't even notice when it ended. Perhaps a bit too dull for my tastes. 2.5/5
I like this one less than the super long one we did because this one was more ear-catching, which is the opposite of what I wanted from ambient music.
Banging "hold" music. Zero reason to listen to other than beats to sample.
Well, this was an out of body experience. Didn't listen to ambient techno before, but I know that it's a favorite amongst audiphiles, and for good reason. This album somehow managed to both - sound like it's from the future, and be one of the earliest albums of it's kind. It captures an atmosphere and emotion really well, you feel like you are drifting through space, having a party and chilling with aliens. The beats aren't crazy complicated, but they are so well blended together that it doesn't even sound like somebody made them out of different sounds. They are just one unit of sound which draws you in and dips you into a pool of intraterrestrial sludge, where you float around and just let go.
.-.
No soy realmente fan de la electrónica y lo disfruté, no lo volvería a escuchar aunque si me pareció bueno Calificación: 7,8
Debut. Ambient techno. Very chill electronica with industrial elements. Lounge music. Probably better high. Easy to work to but there’s much more interesting stuff in this genre. DJ did this in his teens, makes album more impressive.
For the credit these guys get for being masters of ambient, for how much I enjoy ambient music across the board, one would think that I'd rave about these guys. But I don't. There are just a few elements in almost anything I've heard them do that feels loose or sloppy or less human than I find enjoyable. So yeh, 2 stars for effort
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.
Not great for my constant anxiety. Wanted to like it more though.
As mentioned, very much electronic ambient music. Not what I was expecting from the Aphex Twin I did know. Good music to get some things done to, but I don't know how to rate ambient. It success at what it is, but it doesn't stand out much to me. It doesn't beg for this album (or songs) specifically to be relistened to or discussed with others, but none of it was annoying. None of it went on too long
I thought this would be one of the most interesting albums so far but it was actually one of the hardest to get through. I thought it would be good background music but it was difficult to determine when one song ended and other began, it was soooo long, and it wasn’t that interesting.
3.7 2x
Why does the names of half the tracks sound like third rate crypto currencies? Xtal, Heliosphan, Delphium and Actium sound like shit coins some low rent crypto-bro would try to sell me. Come to think of it, he probably listens to Aphex twin. Not actively bad bud a lot like beige wallpaper. Or a gilet vest from Patagonia.
Some very strange noises. I added the first song though
Good ambient music. It doesn't grab attention but has enough variation to keep it from being being mindless.
It's really crazy to listen to something for over an hour, but it also is absolutely nothing, like this album. It is minimalistic, it leaves nothing, it barely has an origin. Listening to this is like eating those chips, Bugles. It's kinda nice while it's happening, and it has a cute, niche idea, but it has absolutely no impact whatsoever, and only makes you want something heartier or more filling.
peak RYMcore. i thought that I'd hate the stuffs that all self-pretentious people love. but i dont hate it. it is just... mid. good for studying background music. 4/5
naja, ist halt elektronisch
Being more familiar with vol 2 and Drukqs, I’m surprised how straightforward and chill this album is… but I still really enjoy it.
nie mój typ
Like when you're tired and think a sleep playlist on Spotify might work. Very mild. Too long of an album to actually commit to sitting through it.
above average electronic, but still electronic
Very groovy music to throw on in the background but definitely not something I'd seek out. This was also just way too long. Just not my personal taste. Low 3.
Didn't care
Good to listen to while you are working on something. A little more engaging than some ambient music-I did tap my toe once or twice-so not completely “drone-like”.
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.
It's OK, and I can see why it stands out in its field. But that is about all. I know the album is called ambient sounds, but this is about as beige as you can get. I need a bit of oomph. It's a 2
No, not for me chief. Just a lot of white noise and tumbleweed.
Very ambient as it says on the tin. I did prefer the previous album 'Digeridoo'. By thr time this album came out I had moved on to Mahler I think. Great as background noise.
its an ok listen, def ambient. Maybe for the time it was revolutionary and forward thinking but in 2025 this sound like stuff we may confuse with AI generated music. its supposedly moody and it does set a mood but the layering is just not that impressive and it doesnt have the nostalgic soul samples or rock samples some other works do. I feel i would have been perfectly ok not having heard this before i die It is a nice change of pace form the barrage of new 70s rock which I’ve gotten recently
(Sigh) Yet ANOTHER electronica album. When that soulless, fake drum beat drops you'd better like it because it's going to bore its way into your brain like some kind of sonic Chinese water torture. The repetition is grating. This one barely earns a 2 by virtue of me not hating it so much that it made me angry.
could i write poetry to these? n
Holy S***!!! This thing is ambient as F***!!! So electronic! It's Fu***n' SICK! YEEEeaaaahhHHH!!!! As far as this period's Ambient Electronica goes, this and The Orb's "Orbvs Terrarvm" are arguably the only two that need to be on this list.
3.5. Good working music
I do like it few Aphex Twin songs, but none of these.
I’m sure I remember listening to this back in my uni days as study focus music. I might crack it out again for the new course I’m starting because I seriously enjoyed the vibes. Pulsewidth was my favourite.
I listened to a decent chunk of this. Perhaps it was formative at its time, but we have such a rich variety of ambient music now that it's hard to appreciate it.
Infinitely better than Daft Punk could ever dream of being
I love ambient music
2.5 Not the worst ambient music I’ve heard for this project (lol), but I definitely prefer my Aphex Twin spooky
Pleasant ambient background music
I was dreading this a bit. But this is more ambient than I expected. It's before the dentist drills and chaos drums phase that followed.
...
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.
There's two kinds of people in this world, people who like ambient techno and miserable bastards. I'm both.
This is one of these albums that is quite hard to rate. I'll be honest, to me this sounds like background-music, nothing someone active listens to. I am not the biggest fan of electronic music but don't dislike it, at the same time I couldn't tell if this is good, groundbreaking for the genre or whatever. I didn't dislike it but would not listen to it again.
They certainly are ambient works. But they work pretty well for ambiance, better than a lot of other music like this.
## 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.
- You know what, I'll give it to him, this is an album of ambient music! - I'm less familiar with electronica as a genre, and this was an easy album to listen to in the background while I was working, and I really enjoyed it - I can see how later electronica has been influenced by this album, which I have read has been a hugely influential one, leading the charge for mainstream electronica - I will need to come back and listen to this one again, to get the full experience again
I regret not listening to this sooner, always thought I wouldn't like it for some reason. A bit hard to describe why I like it as it's not 'musical' in the same way the rest of the list is. It's just some very nice ambience to have playing whilst doing something, it doesn't need to my full attention to be enjoyed Despite being pretty minimal, it's very dynamic and moves around various sounds and styles. Kevin James manages to switch the tone from laidback and relaxing to add a bit more tension and sort of sinister very easily between tracks, We Are The Music Makers into Schottkey 7th Path for example Some of it reminds me of the music Limmy makes between Limmy's Show and his streams so that probably helps endear it to me too 4.5, could be a 5 with repeat listens Highlights: We Are The Music Makers, Ptolemy, Xtal
Sure whatever
Very good, did not expect to like it. Very unique
The real beauty here is the literal sound soaking into your ears. Each hi hat click feels like a tiny kiss. Each boom keeps the momentum alive, and feels so welcoming in an entirely ambient, instrumental collection like this. If you’re willing to absorb it the way it was meant to be absorbed, (not passively consumed) you’ll have a rewarding experience.
Ambient techno Jesus melts warm analog textures into hypnotic rhythms across these sacred selections that redefined what electronic music could be.
Fine but forgettable
Hört mycket om detta album och har sedan jag åkte till Berlin varit väldigt intresserad i techno men för mig är detta inte så intressant och särskilt mot slutet när låtarna blir lite sämre gör det mig mindre ampad på att lyssna om. Säg inte att jag försök mitt allt heller rökte på massa innan jag lyssna
I'm rating this after listening to system of a down, so obviously it sounds better than it should as sometimes it's a bit Ross from friends on his keyboard. 7/10 marked up for sympathy.
Ageispolis is so good thoooo
Trippy - definitely racing game music
Reminds me of my university days. This is the perfect music to study to; not distracting, but has a level of energy so it doesn't put you to sleep. Not sure I can give background music more than 3/5 though.
Exactly what it aspires to be. But with Aphex Twin I want it to be weird.
Does Wyatt it says on the tin
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.
Too long, didn’t listen to all. Giving it a 3 to move on.
Tasty beats. 7/10
Lovely ambient music. Glad the album art isn't terrifying.
3+
This never clicked with me because: A) listening to Aphex Twin normally just makes me wish I was listening to μ-Ziq; B) listening to ambient techno normally just makes me wish I was listening to proper ambient music. Giving it another chance for the thousandth time: I can't deny it has a gorgeous sound. Great sound design that warms your mechanical soul with vintage analogue electronics. When the beats and the ambience coincide just right, there are some untouchable bits of IDM here. However, I wish either the drums would go harder, or the textures would gt more richly developed - otherwise, this is just techno and ambient stuck together to the detriment of both (I feel the same about dub techno as well). Another issue with most of Aphex Twin's output is that it feels long, unfocused, and non-album-y at 75 minutes. The best 40 minutes of this would have made a killer album. But yeah, I do love the sound, I'm glad this exists, and I'm glad Aphex had/has such an influence on electronic music. I'm being picky because I want to fall in love with this album, and it falls slightly short of that. 4*
Xtal
Like all albums, they need the right time and moment to work well. Fortunately for me, this suits my mood in the evenings.
WTF?
I know almost nothing about electronica or ambient electronica. I didn’t think I’d like this album, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. https://x.com/UAPJames/status/1933157104002400752
Groundbreaking with impressive moods and countless tiny variations on the same drum track. Also, I was today years old when I learned that Die Antwoord sampled Aphex Twin on 'Ugly Boy'.
Aphex Twin began reinventing techno as early as age 14. That’s no easy feat. The album could easily have been just a wonderful background piece, but it manages to always remain playful and even the smallest changes of pace demand (and are worthy of) your attention.
extremely comfy music that truly soothes the soul, in different ways than anything else
Yup. Sure is.
Seminal
Perfect music to work to (meant as a big compliment rather than diss).
Had a great time having this on in the background while making breakfast this morning. It’s a perfect record to just relax to. 4/5
Nisam bila baš sigurna kako ocijeniti ovo jer mi je s jedne strane dosta kul za svoje vrijeme, s druge strane, da brijem duboko na ovakvu glazbu, može se naći puno kvalitetnijih stvari. Okej mi je bilo ovako u pozadini zavajbati malo, ali me nije izulo iz cipela. Htjela bih dati 4 ali mi opet nije baš za 4, tako da će biti čvrsta 3/5 ili 6/10.
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!
I’ve heard of Aphex twin, but never listened. I expect this was revolutionary in 1992, but I had my heard buried in textbooks and my musical eye on Ben Harper, Wilco, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the like. Even as a dedicated dancer, I don’t think this album needs to be listened to in this future, other than having infiltrated and being present in nearly everything we listen to. Interesting for its inheritance more than its ambiance. 2.5 -> 3 for having been so influential.
I agree with Mike -I can appreciate how influential this was at the time and its influence can be heard everywhere now. But I appreciate this more as a historical document rather than as a an album.
A lot more ambient than I remembered or expected, but I guess the name gives it away! Some interesting bits and decent for working to, but I was a bit disappointed overall. I swear my memory of these were that they had a little more about them
I've had very little experience with Aphex Twin but know he's highly regarded. Didn't know what to expect but was worried by the word ambient. This isn't ambient is it? Unless I don't understand the word. It had slightly background music qualities on occasion but was mostly full of ideas and interesting turns. Reminded me of the music in the game wipeout, maybe that's acid house. Anamanguchi/chiptune too. Would like the tracks to build up a bit more, maybe that happens in the bin 'ambient' albums, hopefully we get more.
Generally didn't mind it, Ptolemy was the best track, built up a bit and ended nicely. Overall a tiny bit too repetitive. Dance-ambient. I wouldn't be averse to listening to more, but listening is a strong word. Doing the ironing to more.
Knew aphex twin, but only really for the strange music videos for come to daddy and window licker..... Had a mate that was into him. This was different, and much better than I was expecting it to be. But, it is what it says really, it's just background music.... Brian Eno did it too! Thought it was good though, but hard to give it more than a 3...... 3.5 though
A classic and ever so influential, of course, but one does lose interest as if floats and blips along, as if it's music for minds to wander to. Plus, synthesized music in all its form dates quicker, with its much shorter half-life. "Xtal" is best song, and it's not entirely downhill from there, but mostly.
I usually like Electronica and ambient music. Aphex Twin and this album just don't meet my expectations. It's shallow and boring.
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.
Sound design is definitely top notch on this album. Song construction leaves a bit to the imagination though. I was definite grooving at points during this album and I appreciate listening to it with good headphones. This is an album where I enjoy bits and pieces, but as a whole it just doesn't quite do it for me. I understand why this is "your favorite DJs favorite DJ", but it wasn't quite there for me. This hits that 3-3.5 realm for me, with a biased bump up knowing that Aphex Twin influenced so much EDM that I love + the sound design is incredible.
Really cool 90s electronic which indeed was very ambient which the name suggests. Excellent background music while working but wouldn't put this on at any other time. I have never heard of the genre Intelligent Dance Music. I think I am going to start putting intelligent in front of all of the music I listen to. This had some extremely cool beats but was quite repetitive and long.
Real chill and great for working. Might be jarring to some, but I love the juxtaposition of Green Calx. This shit is music for aliens and I'm here for it. Lots of beeps and boops. Love the repeating parts with other instruments woven in. Just solid and interesting stuff.
At first I was thinking it was some old techno for background music, but a closer listen revealed some intricate atmospheres behind those beats. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this
I really get how this album had an influence on future techo and other IDM/EDM kind of music, but I'm really just not a fan of this kind of stuff.
I'm the worst public ever for anything "techno", but... Wow! This album was really good and surprising. I quickly found myself lost (in a good way) in the atmosphere of those tracks and enjoying the whole album. Great stuff!
a million monkeys with a million synthesisers, given enough time will churn out the works of Mozart - guess we need to give them more time cos this is just a collection of sound bites and noises WHY IS IT SO LONG?!?!
Thoughts before listening: I know a couple songs by Aphex Twin that had crazy videos that crossed my radar back in the day, but otherwise I know very little about him. I have never been into techno/electronic music and just assume it isn't for me. That being said, I do know this album is pretty universally praised and always lands at the top of lists, so it will be nice to listen and form my own opinion. Review: This is good I guess. Not really my cup of team, but I can understand why people like it. This is very good background music with pulsating beats and enough variation in the melodies to keep it interesting. I am sure if I had the patience to dig into this type of music I would find a lot of subtle nuisance sprinkled throughout, but it all just ends up sounding repetitive. That being said, there is definitely a chill vibe throughout, and Its better than some of the other electronic music I have heard as part of this project. 3-stars
Ενα απτα αγαπημενα μου αλμπουμ ολων των εποχων.
Green Calx fucks. The rest is okay. A few bad songs.
This album could have been 20 minutes long and even then it would have been just okay. 1.5
A masterpiece of electronic and ambient music that stands up to any album in 2024. 5/5
Thin line between ambient and boring. There were some Interesting things musically but I couldn’t really get into it.
This isnt really my kind of music, but as far as this type of music goes this was one of the more palatable ones. Didnt annoy me as quickly as most of these do
Study music. I like lyrics
80% Best: Xtal; Pulsewidth; Heliosphan; We Are the Music Makers; Ptolemy; Delphium Must-Hear? Almost
Fav song: Heliosphan Another album I listened to a LOT in college. I love ambient music and Selected Ambient Works 85 - 92 might be a big reason why. The production sounds a little bit dated these days, but it’s interesting to go back and listen to where Aphex Twin got his start and how he evolved his sound over the years. Don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise - Richard D James is a genius.
Polarisiert. Für die einen Fahrstuhl- und Anrufbeantwortermusik. Für die anderen das ultimative Hörerlebnis beim Drogenkonsum. Ich tendiere zum ersteren. Das liegt aber an meiner mangelnden Drogenerfahrung.
Not my style
I'm really only going 2 here as Aphex' story is really cool and this is pretty groundbreaking, but I still don't care for hold music.
uh. i was bored i think by this
PlayStation game soundtracks Album art: 1 writing ruins it
OK to listen to, but I can’t really find a place for this in my listening habits - too much for when I want something ambient chill in the background and too little for when I want something more up tempo energetic.
Beautiful album.
The GOAT. It’s incredible how these sounds and textures were produced in the 80s.
Relaxte muziek met een goede beat. Zeer bekende band en ik vind het leuk. De nummers op dit album zijn echter niet de toppers die ik in gedachte had. ***
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
Enjoyable but not remarkable.
Not really 'ambient' - the drum patterns still bounce around in the hyperkinetic style Aphex Twin is known for, and there's so many little intricacies that must have been a pain to program. These tracks must have been astounding to hear when they were played in little Cornish clubs and released as singles back then. But thanks to modern DAWs, the shine has been lost - I can pull open a YouTube, SoundCloud or Bandcamp compilation full of bedroom musicians making music like this in about 2 seconds. Brownie points for including Gene Wilder.
So much better than I anticipated. I've always thought of Apex twin as being a bit difficult to listen to. Not that I didn't like it but I had to be in the mood for it. These works were incredible.
бля да отстаньте вы от меня, это можно свихнуться целый час какие то свистелки перделки слушать
Not sure how it got SO many listens on Spotify. Unremarkable background noise. One long irritating song.
Sure would be a shame if we missed any of these 90s electronica albums, I guess.
This was a weird one to review. It sounded exactly how I remember the 90s being, but ambient. This may have been seminal and amazing at the time, but it’s just kind of nice background noise. Drugs probably enhance this 3/5
Probably the best of the electronic we’ve had. If you’re going to do it, go Eno ambient. Listened whilst building some ikea furniture; perfect activity for this album and may have inflated the rate
This was pretty great. Definitely the best ambient techno I've heard (which is not a lot). I can see that this is a very good example of the genre. Good background music.
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.
No bangers here, still sounds cool
Like an old video game soundtrack. Not going to be the first thing I choose to listen to but it fits a certain mood nicely.
There are only a few electronica/techno bands that I would pay attention to, and I know this band may be considered the grandfather of techno, yet there’s nothing here that tickles my ear.
это намного менее техно чем я думала и некоторые мелодии оказались классическими но конечно вообще не мой жанр
Perfect muzak to block out the sounds of a loud office. Ambient electronica is quite useful, even pleasant, but could you really distinguish this album from countless others? I couldn't.
Ambient is definitely a fitting title for this album. Very low-key, quiet, white-noise kind of music. Would be great to fall asleep to because that was what it was doing to me on my commute today while listening to it.
just a lot of vibes. I liked it, good work music Aphex Twin always remind me of a pal I used to have who now does Roller Derby under the name Aphex Twink. iconic
Nice ambient group. Nice having this type of music at times.
It's not bad, but not for me. I would not listen to this for enjoyment as there is no emontional connection what so ever. It's ok for background music.
Rimelig indflydelsesrigt elektronisk, til tider afslappende, til tider upbeat
Very influential, quite enjoyable
meh
Fuck yeah
background club music. its fine, just not my taste
Background electronic music, a bit monotone but not annoying. Stand-out: Pulsewidth
It's like jazz. How am I supposed to rate this? Is it good or bad? Probably.
I like these instrumental albums. Always a nice change of pace and I think my productivity at work increases by 14%. Although I’ll admit, on the 3rd listen through the album, it started getting annoying. 3/5
One of my all time favorites. The follow up album is even better.
Xtal is a pretty cool song. Ageispolis has an interesting bass line. Overall chill background noise but yet another electronic album that has no business on this list.
Not bad background music. Standout song Green calx
I don't hate it, and it seems like it would be fine for everyone. But at the same time, there's nothing to love. It's just generic white noise, like what they put on when you're getting a message. It's easy to tune out to.
made me fall asleep while driving. thanks Aphex Twin
well this is different ... I'm not concerned about missing anything while I type my responses! Is it anything else but background music? Interesting but nothing to sit down and listen carefully to, almost an intellectual exercise in trying to figure out where the subtle changes come in but ultimately the music never goes anywhere but on ... and on ... and on. The best you can say about this is its pleasant enough to have playing in the background as you get on with your life. Nothing musically interesting or challenging, typically 90's music or is that just letting my prejudices show!
Solid ambient. Good melodies and vibes. Nothing how'd me though.
Quite liked it. Started better than it finished.
I didn't know if I was going to like a full ambient album, but this was really nice to listen to. 4/5
- I am perfectly fine vibing with everything here, though I cannot tell a single track apart. This feels like the groundwork for a lot of synth and lofi music that I have frequently listened to over the course of the last decade. - More my speed than all of the other electronica music I have encountered on this list so far. But it does little to differentiate itself beyond other ambient, atmospheric tracks.
Not my thing really. OK for background music whilst working.
i try to go into every album with an open mind, but i find a lot of electronic music, particularly ambient electronic music, doesn't do much for me. but still, i've heard a lot of people rave about aphex twin so i was optimistic that maybe this would be the album that would make it all click for me. i can't say i disliked this one. i also can't say i greatly enjoyed it either. for me, at best, a lot of the music was interesting but didn't grip me. at worst, it was boring. nothing here was bad, by any stretch. i did think that a lot of the music was interesting and the soundscape crafted here was very well made. it's a great sounding album, when a lot of electronic albums of 25+ years ago may sound a bit dated. but even so, still not totally my thing. i can appreciate the artistry here, but it didn't do much for me.
Excellent album to walk to but as ambient can kinda blend into the daily rhythms of the day, it doesn't feel transformative? Or maybe I haven't recognized its influence on today's music yet
This sucked
It was ok for some background “music” for a while.
Ambient electro at its finest
This album was NOT for me. Even while driving around all day. The songs really bled into eachother and I found very little stood out to me as “interesting”. I guess it’s an “ambient” album so that’s kind of the point, but I just found myself bored. This album might have had a different feel in 1992 - but as far as modern ambient music goes, there is much more out there for me.
I'm sure it's an album that showcases great skill, but I didn't find it to be a very interesting listen.
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.
Zzzzz Two hours later I thought the album had automatically restarted ....it hadn't ...it was a fly caught inside my office window, desperately trying to get out
why didn't i listen to Aphex Twin before?
shifting, developing, moving - interesting listen!
Crazy impressive work for such a young guy without a computer! This one had a bit of an uphill battle to win me over because I'm more of a "tight, completed songs" kinda guy but the soundscapes were really cool.
Listened to this in the gym, it works well.
I can imagine this album must be amazing if stoned. But I’m not and frankly it’s just not really the sort of music I’d choose to listen to. Ok so it’s got some good laid back vibes but I just can’t listen to over an hour of the same repetitive sound. And I’m not prepared to start taking drugs in order just to get on board with it.
Not my cup of tea at all
Nice but made me sleepy
Really interesting. I'm not really into electronica, but I really enjoyed this and would listen to it again.
Never heard this before. I actually like this album more than the other instrumental albums I've been introduced to lately. Strong 3 stars.
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.
I’d expect to hear this crap at 4am while on 17 pingas at a terrible techno club.
Interesting but ultimately not what I look for in music. Cool listen though!
Ambient indeed.
very good sound
Никогда бы не включил специально, но музыка прикольная и атмосферная
Epic
Not bad for background listening.
I don't mind ambient electronic music every now and then. To me, it makes for boring active listening, but in the background, it's a great soundtrack for work, studying, etc.
Listenable.
there are three of the things that i absolutely hate in music… electronic music, overly long and redundant songs and instrumentals. this album has all three. a hard “no” for me.
Why?
1 hour and 15 minutes felt like about 7 years...
Apex twin, responsible for many head melting moments. All good and the videos still creep me out in a good way.
I don't hate it, but it's not something I'd actively put on to listen to.
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.
fine(?) ambient sounds
This really isn’t my kind of music. To me, this just feels like background music so it felt kind of long. It’s not horrible, just not for me.
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.
This is the kind of music I don't normally listen to but was excited to try. I'll admit that because the music is all beats and doesn't include lyrics I have a bit of a hard time remembering any of them specifically and there weren't any big standouts. I do however believe that the album was technically well made and the music does a very good job of creating a "mood" rather than saying a message. Some of the tracks are too discordant and off-putting for my taste, but overall I do enjoy the album. Favorite song: "Heliosphan" Best representation of the album: "Tha"
New age techno ambient for sure background music
2.5
Favourite song - Itax 2.5 stars
Lovely mixture of danceable and calming
pretty long repetitive background ambient music the first half was alright, however by the second half of the album I found myself getting bored.
For what this is I think it’s quite good. Obviously not something I paid a lot of attention to but I liked it in the background. Light 4.
Don't need to hear any more electronic music, although this wasn't as bad as the last one. Sounds like background music for a cocktail lounge.
Booooooooring
This is ok as background music in a trendy bar or nightclub but not one to listen to straight. Very clever to produce sound electronically through a PC device but I did find it quite dull and repetitive. Strangely the last track on the album stayed with me for a while, thought that was the best on there.
The soundtrack that has inspired every cyberpunk game of the last 20 years and the template for all lofi beats playlists/videos. I'm sure this is great to get high to, but as an album while sober its forgettable and nothing better than background music.
Only a few memorable songs, mostly just experimental work
Álbum totalmente instrumental que chamou pouquíssima atenção.
🧿🧿 👄
There's a few tracks here I'd heard before. Overall, it's pretty chill music, certainly ambient, certainly 80s-90s electronica, just a little bit dull though. 3 stars.
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is a masterclass in early electronic music, showcasing skilled production and innovative soundscapes. The album opens with a captivating mix of dreamy textures and ethereal melodies that immediately draw the listener in. Tracks like Xtal and Tha are particularly interesting, blending hypnotic rhythms with lush synths that create a truly immersive experience. However, as the album progresses, some tracks begin to feel a bit samey, leading to a loss of momentum in the latter half. While the consistency in mood is admirable, it can also make the listening experience feel a tad monotonous. Nevertheless, the intricate layering and unique sonic elements keep things engaging for the most part. Aphex Twin’s ability to evoke emotion through minimalism is commendable, even if some ideas begin to repeat. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 1 STAND OUT TRACK - Xtal
already listened to it, my favourite of his. prefer it to selected ambient works vol2
yes yes yes, so amazing.
An absolute classic, and an electronic music album for the ages.
At certain times I like ambient. But for a every day listening, it's a tad boring. I don't know if this one brings anyhting new to the scene. I don't know how ambient developed besides Brian Eno. For my pure subjective taste it's meh...
Not really exciting or moving but I guess that’s the point. Pretty much muzak as far as I’m concerned. I did note how much this seemed to influence future video game music though!
It didn't take long for me to decide I didn't like this
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.
If I were to open a hair salon or spa in the midwest and wanted to project oan image of trying to hard to be nre age eccentric while bringing "a bit of the big city to middle America" I would loop this album. I can practically taste the hair spray just listening to it.
I like electronic music. I like Klaus Schulze, the pioneer in the sector. Or Kraftwerk, with a slightly different direction. I like trance or a bit of techno in between. I also like Philip Glass and minimalist music. But this album is boring. I'd rather listen to cars driving on a wet road, as I'm currently doing. That's more exciting. What did someone write in the comments? The discovery of elevator music? Maybe the album isn't a discovery, but it could be the definition of this. 2/5