I often think it's disappointing that I’m so often compelled to go back and listen to Aphex Twin’s Richard D. James album, which is still possibly the best album in the whole body of electronic releases. And it came out in 1996. What’s happened since then? Aphex Twin himself made a self-indulgently mediocre double album a couple years back. And otherwise, everyone else has succeeded in diverging from that sublime style. But then I found this little gem. In a world of noise and samples, this album bounds out of my speakers to receptive ears. Some of these tracks could easily pass for previously unreleased Aphex, and the others sound like what Richard James might be making if he were making anything these days. Electric Company, better known as Brad Laner of Medicine, plops the glitch sounds of recent times on top of the loopy drums and screeching snares of ’96. And I’m transported back to high school, with these songs drolly wending their way into my heart. While this isn’t anything terribly new, I wouldn’t shy away from calling it a Richard D. James v I often think it's disappointing that I'm so often compelled to go back and listen to Aphex Twin's Richard D. James album, which is still possibly the best album in the whole body of electronic releases. And it came out in 1996. What's happened since then? Aphex Twin himself made a self-indulgently mediocre double album a couple years back. And otherwise, everyone else has succeeded in diverging from that sublime style. But then I found this little gem. In a world of noise and samples, this album bounds out of my speakers to receptive ears. Some of these tracks could easily pass for previously unreleased Aphex, and the others sound like what Richard James might be making if he were making anything these days. Electric Company, better known as Brad Laner of Medicine, plops the glitch sounds of recent times on top of the loopy drums and screeching snares of '96. And I'm transported back to high school, with these songs drolly wending their way into my heart. While this isn't
anything terribly new, I wouldn't shy away from calling it a Richard D. James v1.5, a seminal sound updated for 2003. This should be easy on the now jaded ears of today's electronic enthusiast. If you want something that won't challenge you, this just might be your version of easy-listening.
1. The Golden Ratio
2. It Is Not That Very True
3. Hi Ho the Carrion Crow
4. Black Beauty
5. The Lifestyle
6. Eatings
7. A Warm Transfer
8. I Shall Choice My Self
9. Tu M'Ennuis
10. Take the Moon With the Teeth
11. A Good Top Tongue
12. You Break My Head
13. Camberwell Carrot
More about: Electric Company
