Aphex Twin "Digeridoo" -- Re-releasing, re-expanding and re-examining a Richard D. James classic.

• Isoprophlex (Slow) (Cr...

[@eelponna3145]

I used to listen to a lot of pirate radio in the late 80’s early 90’s. It was mostly old underground rave and bleep&bass tunes. Warp was born out of that scene and the work of one maverick, namely Richard D James, was already emerging head and shoulders above the rest. When I first heard Analogue Bubblebath and Didgeridoo it was hard to tell they were made by the same artist but the tunes sounded very different to what was going on at that time. I was so intrigued by who this guy from Cornwall was. Once I heard Selected Ambient Works 85-92 the rest was history really - I’ve been hooked ever since. Helped by the fact that I’m a similar age to RDJ (a year or two younger) so I’ve aged alongside his music. I’m also thankful to all the dozens of other electronic musicians I’ve been exposed to as a result of following Aphex’s work - BoC, Autechre, U-Ziq, Squarepusher, Plaid etc and the record labels, Warp, Rephlex, Skam, Planet Mu, etc. Over 30yrs of a wonderful musical journey. And it pretty much all started with Didgeridoo!

[@ChristopherLeeRiley]

I agree about this being he first real introduction of Apex Twin to the average listener. I first heard it in 1992 on a local radio station in Cincinnati OH called 97X which you may be familiar with from the movie Rainman which was shot here. Dustin Hoffman's character keeps repeating their slogan "97x, the FUTURE of Rock and Roll". Very iconic. Anyways, on Saturday nights they ran a late night show from midnight to 2AM called 97Xtra Beats that I would record. This program played all sorts of electronic and techno music. Praga Kahn, Moby, The Prodigy (Experience), top 40 techno like James Brown is Dead by L.A. Style, and loads more that I'll never remember. I have a cassette somewhere of it all recorded even with Aphex Twin misspelled as Apex Twin because I did not know how he spelled it yet. I never bought Digeradoo during that time period and only had it on that cassette until about ten years ago I found an original vinyl pressing for cheap.

[@acidhouse3308]

Hi , the first Richard D James related record i bought was the very first Analogue Bubblebath 12". I don`t remember how i heard about it but i actually bought it the week it came out on a promo from a Dance shop in Camden London. After that i got the Didgeridoo and Caustic Window 12". Personally i love every track on the original Didgeridoo 12" but my favourite is also Isoprophlex. Everything about that track is perfect. To me it`s a classic example of a piece of music that is both perfect for an open minded club crowd, or for listening on headphones. Reloads track Phase 4 has a very similar industrial sci-fi feel too Isoprophlex. They don`t sound alike it`s just the rhythm and the way the two tracks are constructed is similar. I also bought a copy of the new double pack from Juno, it arrived this morning. It`s a quality pressing both the vinyl and sleeve. Thanks from England.

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

I totally agree about Reload, and I’ll be doing a video on Pritchard and Middleton soon. It’s been long overdue as I love those guys, especially Pritchard.

[@RasMix1]

one of the albums im ordering on juno in the coming days.

[@RasMix1]

I recall hearing that Digeridoo was made to clear the room at the end of the night.

[@eelponna3145]

@@RasMix1RDJ said that he’d “get scared if people started dancing to my music” lol. He loved to piss people off. Didn’t he release a record that was just a disc of sandpaper? Or I may have imagined that. I saw RDJ play live in Birmingham at the Que Club in 1996 with U-Ziq and Luke Vibert. I have photos somewhere. Amazing night.

[@RasMix1]

@@eelponna3145 sandpaper yes i think so mightve been a dj set cant recall. Oh man sounds like an amazing night luke vibert is awesome too. Super chill dude got to hang with him in portland few years ago.

[@onixm6365]

It makes perfect sense to me. Love club music, but the culture was never for me. Don't know why. Nothing against anybody. It never appealed to me.

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

Yep, same here. I would show up with my records, play, and leave. I think it confused people, but whatever, clubs aren't my life.