The Aphex Twin* – Classics

Reprints the Digeridoo and Xylem Tube EPs. Digeridoo ep also reprinted one song from his first ever release (Analogue Bubblebath), but which song depended on if you had the European printing or the US printing. Both songs are included here. The version of Analogue Bubblebath (the song) used on the US version was missing a half second of the beginning, and the version of Isopropophlex (mis-titled Isopropanal here) on the European version has an extra minute in the middle. This collection also has 4 bonus songs: the unofficial Aphex Twin theme song "Metapharstic" (the only vocals are a chant of "Aphex"), the 2 ultra-harsh remixes of "We Have Arrived" (apparently the album they're originally from was fetching big prices even back in 1994), and a live version of Digeridoo from 1990. his first release was late 1991 so this track was a glimpse into the pre-release days. It's not mentioned what band name he was going under at the time, but since it was 1990 it was probably "Phonic Boy on Dope" (PBoD).

As for the main songs, Digeridoo is both fast and long (7 minutes), written intentionally to wear out the devoted dancers in the audience at the end of a show. Flaphead and Phloam are somewhat forgettable hardcore tracks. Isopropanal (originally titled Isopropophlex) is an extended version of track 2 from the Analogue Bubblebath ep, and is definitely the better version of the song. The song is good enough to be the lead track of an ep of it's own. Polynomial-C is one of Aphex Twin's best songs, somehow managing to sound both beautiful and frantic (due to a steady stream of notes). Tamphex is both a great song and a hilarious parody of a real tampex ad ("are you one of those girls for whom time stops...once a month?" complete with spooky 'time stopping' music). I'd say Phlange Phace and Dodeccaheedron are just as forgettable as Flaphead and Phloam, but I know some people are big fans of Dodeccaheedron's creepy vibe. Btw as far as I know "dodeccaheedron" means "20 sided object". Analogue Bubblebath is a beautiful song, and was the first song on Aphex Twin's first release (the Analogue Bubblebath ep).

Would I recommend this album? Yes, highly! Look for the one with the blue cover rather than the one that looks like an inverted version of Selected Ambient Works 85-92's cover. There's no difference in the music, it's just the better artwork. As far as easy to find Aphex Twin albums go, you can get almost everything he did in 1991 and 1992 if you get Classics, Analogue Bubblebath, Caustic Window Compilation, and Selected Ambient Works 85-92. At that point all you're missing of the 9 releases he had in that time span are the Pac-Man ep, the first Bradley Strider ep, and Analogue Bubblebath 2. Pac-Man isn't THAT common, and good luck finding the last 2 without paying a lot.

The first rave was played this.
Favourite:Dodeccaheedron

The track #4, named here Isopropanol, is in fact the same than Isoprophlex, as featured on the first Analog Bubblebath, released by Richard D. James as AFX on Mighty Force label back in 1991.
It was included on his first releazse on R&S as Aphex Twin (RS92001 - Digeridoo) un der the name Isoprophlex.

Another Aphex Twin classic. Not so much chill out or anarchistic, more of an old skool rave collection harking back to the good old days.

Great banging headf**k tunes best experienced with a likeminded bunch of maniacs.