|
 26
Mixes For Cash | Aphex Twin
a grand diva review
Aphex
Twin's latest offering, "26 Mixes for Cash" is a massive
double-disk tour-de-force. What is amazing to me, is that someone
who is blessed with this level of genius is actually being released
on any label. Most sit solitary in cramped cat-filled apartments
with no utilities; not Richard D. James...um....er... I mean Aphex,
I mean…whatever. Talent by any other name is still
talent.
"26
Mixes for Cash" is a compilation of selected remixes that
Aphex Twin a.k.a. Richard D. James has done for many artists.
The album includes remixes for Saint Etienne, Wagon Christ, NIN,
& Jesus Jones. Yes, you heard me correctly, Jesus Jones. Who
woulda thunk it?
CD1
contains more of the mellow, downtempo creations reminiscent of
his calmer days, though none of the songs are as lethargic as
his early ambient works. CD2 is his more of his aggressive, dark
IDM complete with signature immeasurable BPMs and high frequencies.
True Aphex fans will be able to tell the time period in which
the remix was composed by the sound palette. For example: His
remix of Saint Etienne's "Your Head My Voice" sounds
like it was composed around the same time as his "I Care
Because You Do" whereas, his Aphex Twin Baldhu Mix of Die
Fantastischen Vier's "Kreiger" was more than likely
created around the same time as "Come to Daddy". But
now, enough of this sort of talk - let's head into the music.
I
was immediately floored by his remix of Philip Glass' interpretation
of David Bowie's "Heroes". Minimalism gets even more
minimal in this remix where Aphex does nothing to Glass' haunting
strings, yet chooses only to tweak with the bare vocals and volume.
Perfect combination and why Glass and Aphex haven't created something
together a long time ago is beyond me.
Aphex
and samba? Never thought it would happen? Oh my child it does
when he gets a hold of "Journey" by Gentle People. I
stopped right in the middle of First Avenue and Sixth Street in
New York City to call a friend about this one! Yeah, traffic backed
up a little but it's New York, they would have hit traffic eventually...
He
also gets his hands onto Meat Beat Manifesto and throws down some
large, heavy, beyond-ghetto bass.
There
are only two tracks on the two-disks that don't live up to my
idea of the "Aphex Standard." One is a remix of his
very own track, "Windowlicker." The original track is
a wonderful and aurally playful. Yet the remix seems more like
the rough draft - a starting point for where the song actually
ended up. His remix of the DMX Crew's "You Can't Hide Your
Love" - (sigh) - "Richard, if you were hurting that
bad for cash I would have loaned you the money." This
isn't so much about his remix as it is about the original. There
was really nothing Richard could have done to better the piece
so frankly he should have done nothing.
There
are so many tracks and I could write a long dissertation on the
joys of this album but I will end it here. My only hope is that
more music lovers will tune into what Aphex Twin was been doing
since the age of 15. He continually expands the boundaries of
art, science, sense and energy. This album, takes you on a complete
and rewarding journey of all the possibilities that is Aphex,
though I know as I type this, and he sits in his London flat,
he is coming up with some bizarre way to break down more walls
(I didn't even know there were any left after him).
BUY
IT
Grand Diva
is a contributing writer that is a busy events coordinator in
NYC. Many are open to the public - geust list only - but since
we know you... go here for a list of fantabulous upcoming soirees:
GDG.com
|
