Selected Ambient Works Vol ii - Aphex Twin (1994)
90s Intermezzo - some 90s albums I loved in the 90s
“Love” might be a stretch for me here. I didn’t have to get too far into the electronic and ambient scene to find a lot of music that was more interesting to me, but Aphex Twin was on the front line of the revolution and you had to have some sort of an opinion about it.
Richard James’ first album was called Selected Ambient Works 85-92, and while it’s one of those foundational documents that will forever be on the “most important records” lists, I don’t find it all that interesting. This sequel, on the other hand, is a much different creature. It’s more of a consistent document of a specific project, as a lot of future Aphex releases would be. Thus, it doesn’t sound like a collection of random stuff, but a shows a consistent vision of what James wanted to do with his tools and his creative energy.
It’s not fair to say that it’s “more ambient” than the original Ambient Works, but it’s definitely more abstract. It deals in depth and texture and patience, while seldom resolving into anything you’d bob your head to.
There’s nothing flashy here. Over two hours, sounds and atmospheres fade in, fade out, and gradually develop in interesting ways. While not being a brash or flashy statement, this album speaks a lot more to the discipline and vision that has kept James at the forefront of electronic music for decades.
