IN STOCK: APHEX TWIN - SPYRO Thirteen years passed between Drukqs and Syro, the fifth and sixth Aphex Twin albums. The long stretch, however, wasnt short on new material from Richard D. James. From 2005 through early 2014, the frequently dazzling Analord EPs (all but one of which was credited to AFX), an EP and LP as the Tuss, and a liberated Caustic Window LP all reached the public. In August 2014, a nylon Aphex blimp -- not quite as immense as the S.O.S. Bands presumably decommissioned aircraft, yet transfixing nonetheless -- was spotted over London, and the following month, Syro arrived on Warp. Low on frenetics, Syro is anchored by rotund and agile basslines that zip and glide, and its decked in accents and melodies that are lively even at their most distressed. It also flows easily, a notion epitomized by the sequencing of XMAS_EVET10 [Thanaton3 Mix] and Produk 29, where a mesmerizing combination of snaking low-end synthesizers (10:31, not 12:24 in length) is trailed by an avant-rap body mover that bears some resemblance to Dabryes lithe and sprightly early releases. Components of certain tracks, like the squiggled Mr. Fingers spin-cycle bassline in 4 bit 9d api+e+6 and scrambled rhythms of CIRCLONT6A [Syrobonkus Mix], make the album seem like a bright progression from the Analord releases. Apart from the straight-ahead slamming drums in 180db_, the most striking aspect of Syro is the funkiness of its synthesizers relative to James previous output. His playing here is far too fidgety to be grafted onto the likes of You Dropped a Bomb on Me, Youre the One for Me, and Just Be Good to Me, though some of the lines in, uh, the title cut, have that grimace-triggering quality. Only a trace of the indiscriminate sequencing and stylistic switch-ups heard on Drukqs remains. Its saved for the end, with a rather elegant, part-drumnbass excursion as the penultimate number, followed by a placid piano-only piece in the vein of those heard on the 2001 album. These tracks actually enhance, rather than hinder, one of James most inviting and enjoyable releases.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:36:05 +0000
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