Aphex Twin - Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Pt2 (EP) Mp3

This album is no electronic/IDM Album anymore. The main issue of those persons who do not like it is that is no Pop Music anymore. I would rather say here we've got the first true free Jazz release of Richard. It's suitable for listening as well as for using it as a mixing or sample utensil.

the computer side of things is essentially just MIDI events. all the actual sounds are produced by motors striking acoustic instruments.

He got someone to build mechanical instruments with MIDI controlled beaters and set them up with his Yamaha Disklavier piano, also controlled via MIDI, and mic'd them up. It was all programmed on computer. There's an article called Syrobonkers out there which goes into great detail about his hardware and mechanical setups.

Love your coment. Do you know how the album is produced? I have this Image of a room full of analog instruments conected somehow to a central computer deck. But i'm sure it's done entierly on a computer...?!

I’ll be honest – at first I wasn’t even going to cover another Aphex Twin release. With so much hype last year, focusing on the return of one of the most influential musicians in the electronic scene, I felt like there was plenty of press around this eccentric figure, from underground to commercial scenes alike. I’m not saying that the publicity was undeserved – the Syro release was fantastic [read Headphone Commute review] – but it felt like the usual AFX standards, a bit like Richard David James just scrapped and remixed a few of his b-sides, left to collect the dust on the shelves post the 2001 Drukqs era. Then there was massive Soundcloud dump from user18081971, which the entire community reeled from, but with so much material to sift through, how can someone be left reinforced? The account with the 200+ previously unreleased demos has been since shut down, but now appears to be active again (you can still find the entire archive hosted by one of those mega upload sharing sites if it goes away again). Meanwhile, in early January, Warp quietly released an Aphex Twin EP, suspiciously titled Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments Pt2 – [where was part one?] – but after my first skeptical rotation I was hooked. And here we are!The EP is a collection of 13 short vignettes, ranging from 9 seconds to 5 minutes in length, on which James appears to play prepared piano, sampling its various sounds and then sequencing them into varied rhythmic pieces. The experimental signature of the arrangements is indeed that of Aphex Twin, but the overall organic sound of these “computer controlled acoustic instruments” propels the sound into that electroacoustic percussive territory, dominated by John Cage, David Tudor, and Arnold Schoenberg. In the typical Warp fashion, there is not much revealed about the process used by James to compose the tracks – the label has no press release, the album cover and the disk are plain black (I wonder how much The Designers Republic got paid for this), and the titles are the usual garble of abbreviated words, hinting perhaps at the shortened file names, saved and later abandoned: “snar2″, “0035 1-Audio”, “hat5c 0001 rec-4″. A few of online reviews reference a series of constructed mechanical instruments which perform the compositions in the spirit of “musical automata” of Pierre Bastien, but frankly, I’m not buying it (the sound clips sound the same, down to the barely audible clicks at the end of each loop). Let’s hope that I am wrong, and one day we’ll witness a performance of the above, because this music certainly deserves it.Regardless of its execution, the scratches and plucks still make my neurons tingle, as do the sped up arpeggios walking up a keyboard, as do the sounds of the home-made percussion. I love the honky-tonk of each key, the slap of each hammer, and the ring of each string. The rhythms of the kitchen utensils, or whatever else is the origin of each snare is, create a visually appealing sonic environment, in which every fan of Aphex Twin could feel like a kid again, banging on the sand buckets, filled with future castles of the memories past. And if you sensed a slight hint of negative connotation in these words, I urge you to disband it, because I’ll highly recommend this short EP for every fan of Aphex Twin.

"[where was part one?]"drukqs, aphex said it was a follow-up to the album

it's all about the 'spined sleeve' for me, thank you warp records for blessing us with teh spined sleeve aphux twins records!!

I would say that this recording is being influenced by the great classical composer Conlon Nancarrow. He composed super complex pieces for the player piano. Pieces that were impossible to play for humans but a machine could. Acoustic but mechanical. Great works. One of the Johns from They Might Be Giants also composed a piece to be played by the mechanical band of a carousel. All fascinating ideas. I am really liking this record.

first listened to it at 33 rpm .then played it at 45 rpm . RDJ always delivers the goods!

great record! 33 or 45 depending on if you listen to it as a hip-hop or jungle ep. for me, given that rdj is fond of extremes, it's a jungle record, kind of a compact and even deeper concept of drukqs (in an interview for the groove magazine he says he's done some jungle stuff using a disklavier). that the cd was released in 33 speed, sounds for me as one more of his eccentricities, a kind of pop criticism or simply a proof of his genius, since in either speed you have a very enjoyable and extremely enigmatic listen.

When this first came out I listened to clips online and it didn't really grab me. After reading some mixed reviews here on Discogs the more positive ones intrigued me so I bought it. Hearing this on a proper stereo setup made a big difference. When it was done I immediately flipped it back over to the A side and played it again. I love how the playback speed is listed at 33 or 45. I really like the idea that an electronic musician is putting out an "acoustic" album of sorts (or EP in this case). It sounds like some of these tracks have effects added to them after initially being recorded so it's not exactly "acoustic" but close enough for me (and really, who cares?). Some music just needs to be played loud and in the open (as opposed to headphones) and I think this is one of those cases. If you're hearing this on YouTube through computer speakers or headphones I think you're missing out. Pick it up in your favorite format and crank it up!

I agree with you, yet disagree. This album is phenomenal through headphones, but I'm also playing it on vinyl on a Technics through a 10-band EQ and out of an awesome receiver. That's just me. What I'm agreeing to is: don't waste time streaming this album off YouTube. Go out and actually buy this album. Digitally, CD, LP; doesn't matter how. This album is worth the monetary investment. Sometimes you can't always say that.

Pro tip:Play at 45PRM

DJ tip: Play at any revolutions per minute. Fix it in the mix.

Forty-five holders of a PR Master degree walked into a bar...

...piano un1 arpej...

a fun, unique EP that could only come from the mind of Richard D James.based on the recent interview he did with pitchfork around the release of Syro, this is along the lines of what I was expecting him to put out next. and really, seems to be a continuation of the ideas he was starting to touch on with Drukqs.If this EP is to be taken as a teaser for what is to come on a future new album, I am definitally looking forward to it.Might not be to the liking of those who prefer his older style and sound (which Syro contained a lot of). But it's nice to see RDJ continuing to make creative, playful music, exploring new areas and ideas. He said himself that Syro was old recordings he wanted to sort of 'get out of the way' and that he was anticipating focusing on, and putting out the newer stuff he'd been working on, which was pretty different and out there. Well, we're finally starting to hear that new material. Very pleased. Here's to hoping that picking up new Aphex Twin releases will be more commonplace in the upcoming years!

Pre-ordered from Bleep... still hasn't arrived:(

finally got mine from bleep today.

so good, 45 is better

For me also 45 rpm.

I think I prefer the 45 version as well, although what is cool about this release is there is no correct pitch, (much like æ's Anti EP) and both rpms are enjoyable.

I think this is good for what it is, a simple EP in the new era of Aphex. Kinda sounds like Syro mixed with a bit of SAW 2, ICBYD and Drukqs. Vinyl sounds nice and rich also. Cool stuff!

beyond my wildest expectations. insanely good.

Pah. Awful miking, paired with melodies that took no effort and don't bring any organised harmony. Beats are OK here and there, but the timing is pretty awful in lots of spots. snar2 is decent, but the rest is a waste of time. Nice idea, with nice parts here and there, but the execution feels really lazy, and this release just seems like a cash grab. Basically just fragments that sound neither good as a whole - or good on their own.

I stopped reading at the part you considered a 10-seconds snare programming the album's peak...please re-listen

Enter the ever disagreeing comments on Aphex Twin works. I find this to be a nice listening album. I think the key to abstract music is to whether or not you feel you have to pay attention or not too. Is it too abstract to be enjoyed. Sometimes I listen to AFX and for example Syro, and I feel like trying to critique every part. Because sometimes with post 1996 AFX they seem to be hopped up on crank. Like the anticipation is just too much and every track is nearing frantic intensity and sometimes just too busy. Doesn't mean I do not like it. However, this album seems to be most related to Drukqs and then in a way has less demented SAW 2 pacing and acoustics. It just seems to be an album you can put on and not really pay attention to. And this is also. I enjoyed this little cd. Some good sounds throughout. Especially flowed well during the last 3/4 of the cd. Solid. B rating. Should grow either time.

so, which is it? 33 or 45? is one side 33 and one side 45?

Thought about that a long time...just from the start when I listened to it the first time.My guess: Yes, it is playable at 33 or 45. Both sides.But on 45 some of the tracks will have that "childs play" sound scheme...like a voice that is pitched up just a little to much.So maybe the writings on the Label give a hint. Label on side A reads: 33 or --45 -Label on side B reads: 33 or --45 --The double - left of the 45 maybe points in the direction to play in on 45 but pitch it down a little then.2%? 4%? 6%? I don't know - that may be a question of personal taste.This f***** guy got us again...:DBet he's having the time of his live to explore our ideas on his ideas.:Dp.s.: Vinyl sounds ok, but my copy has some serious surface noise. Not removable by washing. Think the pressing is not on highest Standards.Does anybody know where the pressing plant of actual WARP titles is?The Bleep mp3 320 cbr download on the other hand is heavily compressed and is clipping from time to time.So...both release paths do not represent the optimum in sound quality.One day I will give these 24 bit files a shot...one day. Maybe...

33 rpm - is the speed of the digital release

Both sides can be played at either 33 or 45. One EP; two different experiences.

This Aphex Twin E.P. sounds more like a sample cd / record, than as an ep / album.

IDM? Idk. Downtempo? No. Ambient? No. The most breaks/beats oriented release in RDJ's catalog. The closest record to the pseudo-hip-hop of ICBYD. Not for everyone, but for those who'll enjoy it - it's wonderful.

So the accoustic tracks from Drukqs are the 'Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt1 EP'? I always had them in a seperate folder on my mp3 player. Cant wait to hear part two!

Sorry, no. drukqs is drukqs.

WoW! Excellent!

My copies of the 12" and CD have shipped out, surprised there hasn't been an, ahem, "alternate" way to listen to it yet.