For the second album in its ruefully short-lived Artificial Intelligence series, Sheffield's Warp Records commissioned a young Richard James (now better known as the Aphex Twin) to demonstrate not only the capabilities of his collection of homemade synthesizers but of his uniquely warped mind as well. Surfing on Sine Waves provides an equal dose of both, a soundscape in which undulating synths compete for space with disjointed drum programming and awkward song structure. But somehow everything fits together. Smooth and tactile tracks like "Polygon Window," "Quixote," and "UT1 Dot" are balanced by opaque drum workouts like "Quoth" and "Supremacy II," finishing off with the delicate and sublime "Quino-Phec." Surfing... epitomizes the sound James slowly abandoned in his later material--a smooth hybrid of Detroit's raw sensibilities with the European electronica that was its inspiration and the personal touch that can only come from a lonely, disturbed mind. --Matthew Corwine
Product Description
Culled from the seminal Artificial Intelligence series, this was the debut release on Warp from Richard James, aka Aphex Twin. Surfing... sounds as refreshing today as it did almost a decade ago. This re-issue has two previously unreleased tracks 'Portreath Harbour' and 'Redruth School'. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.
Surfing on Sine Waves,Polygon Window,Warp Records,Ambient,Dance Music,IDM,Pop,Techno,Trance
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Surfing on Sine Waves
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ASIN: B00005AVOQ Release Date: 2001-03-20 |
Tracks:
- Polygon Window
- Audax Powder
- Quoth
- If It Really Is Me
- Supremacy II
- UT1 - Dot
- Untitled
- Quixote
- Portreath Harbour
- Redruth School
- Quino - Phec
Amazon.com
For the second album in its ruefully short-lived Artificial Intelligence series, Sheffield's Warp Records commissioned a young Richard James (now better known as the Aphex Twin) to demonstrate not only the capabilities of his collection of homemade synthesizers but of his uniquely warped mind as well. Surfing on Sine Waves provides an equal dose of both, a soundscape in which undulating synths compete for space with disjointed drum programming and awkward song structure. But somehow everything fits together. Smooth and tactile tracks like "Polygon Window," "Quixote," and "UT1 Dot" are balanced by opaque drum workouts like "Quoth" and "Supremacy II," finishing off with the delicate and sublime "Quino-Phec." Surfing... epitomizes the sound James slowly abandoned in his later material--a smooth hybrid of Detroit's raw sensibilities with the European electronica that was its inspiration and the personal touch that can only come from a lonely, disturbed mind. --Matthew CorwineAlbum Description
Culled from the seminal Artificial Intelligence series, this was the debut release on Warp from Richard James, aka Aphex Twin. Surfing... sounds as refreshing today as it did almost a decade ago. This re-issue has two previously unreleased tracks 'Portreath Harbour' and 'Redruth School'. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2006-07-10
If you like aphex's repetitive stuff, buy it, otherwise buy one of his better albums, like Richard D. James or Drukqs
Brilliant........2005-08-26
The album reminds me of swimming in a place just like on the cover - a chilly ocean on a overcast day, and later getting out and feeling wet on the inside of my skin. Supposedly, Mr. Richard almost drowned at the place photographed on the cover.
"Polygon Window", the title track bounces with eerie synthesizer melodies in the background. On a lot of this album, he uses cheez noises and synths, but it only occurs to you if you overanalyze it, and he manages to make first-class music from it. Mind you, it may only occur to you after 50 honest listens. The second track takes it a level up in involvement, bouncing and weaving, leading you to the track afterwards, which lulls you into the album's center. "Quoth" earned a much sought-after single with four listed b-sides (including a much nicer version of "Quoth") and an unlisted track that is supposedly the "+/- mix" of "Quoth". Did you know that (again, supposedly) the sounds of "Quoth" were sampled from one of Richard's lackluster job's as a miner? Fringe benefits!
"If It Really Is Me" is a wonderfully done song. It is by far the darkest, sultriest song on the album and even uses a rare piano track that are uncommon of Mr. James. This really gives me the just-after-swimming feeling, and is incredibly "chilling" and relaxing. After it fades out, Richard redeems his moment of smooth music with a slightly tangy "Supremacy II" which may or may not contain a sample of his mother going over vocal exercises. "UT1-Dot" is a pretty playground for a Speak & Spell to mutter around in. The rhythm is superb.
An utitled track (#7) goes back to the dark side of the album and build up into a dark & grumpy melody that again gives the feeling of having-just-swum/swam. Definitely a high point of the album, which continues into the brilliant "Quixote" where synth noises gust and yaw around, carrying and contributing to a truly great song. Listening to it makes me thing of a wide sky over a big desert landscape. Poetic... (not me)
Thankfully for Warp's US department, this American edition contains two exclusive tracks that didn't make it earlier. "Portreath Harbour" fits nicely with the clever-sounding "Redruth School". The beats are big and nice and carry the album's strong lean towards amazing melodies. And to finish it off, "Quino-Phec" lulls you out of this brilliant and amazing album and makes it just as rewarding to listen to it in its entirety again, over and over.
Overall one of the best Aphex albums out there. His earlier work seems to be the most "eager-to-please", and a bit more understandable. This album will never get old if listened to responsibly. Infinitely rewardable.
Another tidbit: Richard D. James supposedly spilled a glass of orange juice on the album's master tapes, which alledgidly ruined them. I believe that they were too good to live that long. Now it's kind of like getting a buried treasure if you shell out the insignificant amount of money to get it.
See through the window.......2005-08-09
This was great for its time, but 13yrs have gone by...........2005-01-12
But you have to remember the technology of the time - imagine what John Cage would have done with todays computers and software!! So if you want a museum peice, then drop the bread on this trip back in time. --O, and don't give me that s#$# about timeless music as Richard heavily relies on contemporary tech tools. jb
Better than the Aphex Twin "..I care because you do" and .......2004-12-25
As far as standout tracks go:
1) 'Polygon Window' - is a great first track, pretty laid back for RDJ
2) 'Audax Powder' - has a great jaunty vibe and is equal to the best tracks on the Aphex Twin albums mentioned above
3) 'Quoth' - was a forerunner of the driven 'punchy, syncopated beats' style perfected by Autechre and seen elsewhere in the RDJ ouevre. Great track!
5) 'Supremacy II' - another Ae precursor, this track sizzles!
6) 'UT1-dot' - another jaunty romp, with a 'spacy' development
7) untitled - insistent and 'in your face', constantly seeming to build to an unconsummated climax, brilliantly dissolving into nothingness. One of my favourite RDJ tracks and like another reviewer said, by far the best on this album
8) 'Quixote' - more spacy, spooky and chilled out, a great foil to Track 7
10) 'Redruth School' - bright, bouncy and buoyant - beautiful!
For me, this album has an 'innocence' missing in much of the later RDJ ouevre. I find a lot of his music a bit too clever, bordering on pretentious at times. There is often is a lack of an emotional core for me, which is a pity, 'cos he has a prodigious talent! 'Sine Waves' is a highpoint in Richard D James' career, along with the 'Selected Ambient...' album mentioned above.
This is an excellent album and is well worth its modest cost!
Average customer rating:
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Surfing on Sine Waves
Polygon Window Manufacturer: Tvt ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient
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ASIN: B000003RFY Release Date: 1993-06-25 |
Tracks:
- Polygon Window
- Audax Powder
- Quoth
- If It Really Is Me
- Supremacy II
- UT1 Dot
- 6,24
- Quixote
- Quino - Phec
Amazon.com
For the second album in its ruefully short-lived Artificial Intelligence series, Sheffield's Warp Records commissioned a young Richard James (now better known as the Aphex Twin) to demonstrate not only the capabilities of his collection of homemade synthesizers but of his uniquely warped mind as well. Surfing on Sine Waves provides an equal dose of both, a soundscape in which undulating synths compete for space with disjointed drum programming and awkward song structure. But somehow everything fits together. Smooth and tactile tracks like "Polygon Window," "Quixote," and "UT1 Dot" are balanced by opaque drum workouts like "Quoth" and "Supremacy II," finishing off with the delicate and sublime "Quino-Phec." Surfing... epitomizes the sound James slowly abandoned in his later material--a smooth hybrid of Detroit's raw sensibilities with the European electronica that was its inspiration and the personal touch that can only come from a lonely, disturbed mind. --Matthew CorwineAlbum Description
Culled from the seminal Artificial Intelligence series, this was the debut release on Warp from Richard James, aka Aphex Twin. Surfing... sounds as refreshing today as it did almost a decade ago. This re-issue has two previously unreleased tracks 'Portreath Harbour' and 'Redruth School'. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2006-07-10
If you like aphex's repetitive stuff, buy it, otherwise buy one of his better albums, like Richard D. James or Drukqs
Brilliant........2005-08-26
The album reminds me of swimming in a place just like on the cover - a chilly ocean on a overcast day, and later getting out and feeling wet on the inside of my skin. Supposedly, Mr. Richard almost drowned at the place photographed on the cover.
"Polygon Window", the title track bounces with eerie synthesizer melodies in the background. On a lot of this album, he uses cheez noises and synths, but it only occurs to you if you overanalyze it, and he manages to make first-class music from it. Mind you, it may only occur to you after 50 honest listens. The second track takes it a level up in involvement, bouncing and weaving, leading you to the track afterwards, which lulls you into the album's center. "Quoth" earned a much sought-after single with four listed b-sides (including a much nicer version of "Quoth") and an unlisted track that is supposedly the "+/- mix" of "Quoth". Did you know that (again, supposedly) the sounds of "Quoth" were sampled from one of Richard's lackluster job's as a miner? Fringe benefits!
"If It Really Is Me" is a wonderfully done song. It is by far the darkest, sultriest song on the album and even uses a rare piano track that are uncommon of Mr. James. This really gives me the just-after-swimming feeling, and is incredibly "chilling" and relaxing. After it fades out, Richard redeems his moment of smooth music with a slightly tangy "Supremacy II" which may or may not contain a sample of his mother going over vocal exercises. "UT1-Dot" is a pretty playground for a Speak & Spell to mutter around in. The rhythm is superb.
An utitled track (#7) goes back to the dark side of the album and build up into a dark & grumpy melody that again gives the feeling of having-just-swum/swam. Definitely a high point of the album, which continues into the brilliant "Quixote" where synth noises gust and yaw around, carrying and contributing to a truly great song. Listening to it makes me thing of a wide sky over a big desert landscape. Poetic... (not me)
Thankfully for Warp's US department, this American edition contains two exclusive tracks that didn't make it earlier. "Portreath Harbour" fits nicely with the clever-sounding "Redruth School". The beats are big and nice and carry the album's strong lean towards amazing melodies. And to finish it off, "Quino-Phec" lulls you out of this brilliant and amazing album and makes it just as rewarding to listen to it in its entirety again, over and over.
Overall one of the best Aphex albums out there. His earlier work seems to be the most "eager-to-please", and a bit more understandable. This album will never get old if listened to responsibly. Infinitely rewardable.
Another tidbit: Richard D. James supposedly spilled a glass of orange juice on the album's master tapes, which alledgidly ruined them. I believe that they were too good to live that long. Now it's kind of like getting a buried treasure if you shell out the insignificant amount of money to get it.
See through the window.......2005-08-09
This was great for its time, but 13yrs have gone by...........2005-01-12
But you have to remember the technology of the time - imagine what John Cage would have done with todays computers and software!! So if you want a museum peice, then drop the bread on this trip back in time. --O, and don't give me that s#$# about timeless music as Richard heavily relies on contemporary tech tools. jb
Better than the Aphex Twin "..I care because you do" and .......2004-12-25
As far as standout tracks go:
1) 'Polygon Window' - is a great first track, pretty laid back for RDJ
2) 'Audax Powder' - has a great jaunty vibe and is equal to the best tracks on the Aphex Twin albums mentioned above
3) 'Quoth' - was a forerunner of the driven 'punchy, syncopated beats' style perfected by Autechre and seen elsewhere in the RDJ ouevre. Great track!
5) 'Supremacy II' - another Ae precursor, this track sizzles!
6) 'UT1-dot' - another jaunty romp, with a 'spacy' development
7) untitled - insistent and 'in your face', constantly seeming to build to an unconsummated climax, brilliantly dissolving into nothingness. One of my favourite RDJ tracks and like another reviewer said, by far the best on this album
8) 'Quixote' - more spacy, spooky and chilled out, a great foil to Track 7
10) 'Redruth School' - bright, bouncy and buoyant - beautiful!
For me, this album has an 'innocence' missing in much of the later RDJ ouevre. I find a lot of his music a bit too clever, bordering on pretentious at times. There is often is a lack of an emotional core for me, which is a pity, 'cos he has a prodigious talent! 'Sine Waves' is a highpoint in Richard D James' career, along with the 'Selected Ambient...' album mentioned above.
This is an excellent album and is well worth its modest cost!
Average customer rating:
|
Surfing on Sine Waves
Polygon Window Manufacturer: Warp ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Techno
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Trance
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
IDM
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000272L3 Release Date: 1993-01-01 |
Tracks:
- Polygon Window
- Audax Powder
- Quoth
- If It Really Is Me
- Supremacy II
- UT1 - Dot
- Quixote
- Quino - Phec
Amazon.com
For the second album in its ruefully short-lived Artificial Intelligence series, Sheffield's Warp Records commissioned a young Richard James (now better known as the Aphex Twin) to demonstrate not only the capabilities of his collection of homemade synthesizers but of his uniquely warped mind as well. Surfing on Sine Waves provides an equal dose of both, a soundscape in which undulating synths compete for space with disjointed drum programming and awkward song structure. But somehow everything fits together. Smooth and tactile tracks like "Polygon Window," "Quixote," and "UT1 Dot" are balanced by opaque drum workouts like "Quoth" and "Supremacy II," finishing off with the delicate and sublime "Quino-Phec." Surfing... epitomizes the sound James slowly abandoned in his later material--a smooth hybrid of Detroit's raw sensibilities with the European electronica that was its inspiration and the personal touch that can only come from a lonely, disturbed mind. --Matthew CorwineAlbum Description
Culled from the seminal Artificial Intelligence series, this was the debut release on Warp from Richard James, aka Aphex Twin. Surfing... sounds as refreshing today as it did almost a decade ago. This re-issue has two previously unreleased tracks 'Portreath Harbour' and 'Redruth School'. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2006-07-10
If you like aphex's repetitive stuff, buy it, otherwise buy one of his better albums, like Richard D. James or Drukqs
Brilliant........2005-08-26
The album reminds me of swimming in a place just like on the cover - a chilly ocean on a overcast day, and later getting out and feeling wet on the inside of my skin. Supposedly, Mr. Richard almost drowned at the place photographed on the cover.
"Polygon Window", the title track bounces with eerie synthesizer melodies in the background. On a lot of this album, he uses cheez noises and synths, but it only occurs to you if you overanalyze it, and he manages to make first-class music from it. Mind you, it may only occur to you after 50 honest listens. The second track takes it a level up in involvement, bouncing and weaving, leading you to the track afterwards, which lulls you into the album's center. "Quoth" earned a much sought-after single with four listed b-sides (including a much nicer version of "Quoth") and an unlisted track that is supposedly the "+/- mix" of "Quoth". Did you know that (again, supposedly) the sounds of "Quoth" were sampled from one of Richard's lackluster job's as a miner? Fringe benefits!
"If It Really Is Me" is a wonderfully done song. It is by far the darkest, sultriest song on the album and even uses a rare piano track that are uncommon of Mr. James. This really gives me the just-after-swimming feeling, and is incredibly "chilling" and relaxing. After it fades out, Richard redeems his moment of smooth music with a slightly tangy "Supremacy II" which may or may not contain a sample of his mother going over vocal exercises. "UT1-Dot" is a pretty playground for a Speak & Spell to mutter around in. The rhythm is superb.
An utitled track (#7) goes back to the dark side of the album and build up into a dark & grumpy melody that again gives the feeling of having-just-swum/swam. Definitely a high point of the album, which continues into the brilliant "Quixote" where synth noises gust and yaw around, carrying and contributing to a truly great song. Listening to it makes me thing of a wide sky over a big desert landscape. Poetic... (not me)
Thankfully for Warp's US department, this American edition contains two exclusive tracks that didn't make it earlier. "Portreath Harbour" fits nicely with the clever-sounding "Redruth School". The beats are big and nice and carry the album's strong lean towards amazing melodies. And to finish it off, "Quino-Phec" lulls you out of this brilliant and amazing album and makes it just as rewarding to listen to it in its entirety again, over and over.
Overall one of the best Aphex albums out there. His earlier work seems to be the most "eager-to-please", and a bit more understandable. This album will never get old if listened to responsibly. Infinitely rewardable.
Another tidbit: Richard D. James supposedly spilled a glass of orange juice on the album's master tapes, which alledgidly ruined them. I believe that they were too good to live that long. Now it's kind of like getting a buried treasure if you shell out the insignificant amount of money to get it.
See through the window.......2005-08-09
This was great for its time, but 13yrs have gone by...........2005-01-12
But you have to remember the technology of the time - imagine what John Cage would have done with todays computers and software!! So if you want a museum peice, then drop the bread on this trip back in time. --O, and don't give me that s#$# about timeless music as Richard heavily relies on contemporary tech tools. jb
Better than the Aphex Twin "..I care because you do" and .......2004-12-25
As far as standout tracks go:
1) 'Polygon Window' - is a great first track, pretty laid back for RDJ
2) 'Audax Powder' - has a great jaunty vibe and is equal to the best tracks on the Aphex Twin albums mentioned above
3) 'Quoth' - was a forerunner of the driven 'punchy, syncopated beats' style perfected by Autechre and seen elsewhere in the RDJ ouevre. Great track!
5) 'Supremacy II' - another Ae precursor, this track sizzles!
6) 'UT1-dot' - another jaunty romp, with a 'spacy' development
7) untitled - insistent and 'in your face', constantly seeming to build to an unconsummated climax, brilliantly dissolving into nothingness. One of my favourite RDJ tracks and like another reviewer said, by far the best on this album
8) 'Quixote' - more spacy, spooky and chilled out, a great foil to Track 7
10) 'Redruth School' - bright, bouncy and buoyant - beautiful!
For me, this album has an 'innocence' missing in much of the later RDJ ouevre. I find a lot of his music a bit too clever, bordering on pretentious at times. There is often is a lack of an emotional core for me, which is a pity, 'cos he has a prodigious talent! 'Sine Waves' is a highpoint in Richard D James' career, along with the 'Selected Ambient...' album mentioned above.
This is an excellent album and is well worth its modest cost!
Album Review:
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