Customer Reviews

Caustic Window:Compilation

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally! After promising this compilation for, I swear, decades, it's finally out. For the unitiated, Caustic Window is Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin aka AFX aka lots of other stuff, and this disc is a first-time-on-cd comp of some of his early 90's "braindance" recordings for his own Rephlex label. Then again, how many people who don't know this are going to be looking up Caustic Window releases at Amazon.com? Ahh, I'm proceeding anyway . .

Whereas James' Aphex releases run the gamut of arty, 15 minute drones to brief, brain-scrambing cacaphony, Caustic Window is all about hardcore dance music. It's not complicated, so I keep thinking it should be boring hearing basically the same beat and samples for two to eight minutes a pop, but it isn't. Maybe it's because the beats aren't garden variety; rather they're punishing and relentless on the best tracks and distorted into something fresh on others.

The best tracks? "The Garden of Linmiri" is my favorite. Its fake 'real' name for years was "Industro Garbage Beats," which I feel is more appropriate. Its beats just pound away at you methodically for five minutes, while a little squeaky effect drills away at your brain in the middle of the mix. Next is "Fantasia," which will drive your roomies nuts and might kill your cat. It's faster than "Linmiri," and its wildly gyrating synth is nothing short of psycho. "Joyrex J5" is the most mellow track here, and shows a little of James' ambient side.

All in all an inventive, raw look at a genius' early efforts. If you like hardcore dance tracks, this will appeal.

One word: Fantasia. It's what hardcore is all about. Put it on and turn it up as loud as it will go. Try not to kill anything or anybody while you're at it...I'd been looking for it for over a year...This cd is awesome, to say the least. Buy it NOW.

Caustic Window is Aphex Twin's hardcore techno aegis. As the title of this CD indicates, it's a compilation of EPs which had been released on Richard's own Rephlex label. Well, I don't think this album is as well-crafted and interesting as Richard's output under the Aphex Twin or AFX name. Many tracks are very aggressive, featuring banging percussion, 'caustic' sequencers and other acid techno ingredients. It sounds forced, much like 'hey, let's make a nasty, noisy track'. Richard's good musical sense is buried under this brutal noise. As expected, I find my favorites among the calmer pieces. "Cordialatron" (a bonus track of the European edition?) and "On the romance tip" are both highly melodious techno songs which match the best on "Selected..I". The 22-second "Pigeon Street" is very childish and funny. "Italic eyeball" and "Clayhill dub" lessen the industrial influence by playing around with dub rhythms. "CD Compilation" pales next to the extraordinarily high quality of Richard's best albums, but it's a worthwhile item for fans and completists.

For those expecting a brutal all-out assault keyboard riffs will be pleased in this album . Astroblaster, Joyrex, The Garden of Linmiri ( which actually samples a snippet of a track from his Analogue Bubblebath 3 album ) and much more besides. If you want songs that will give your ears and feet a rest, do not worry- Richard has that sorted out as well, there are few of them to keep you from going completely over the top. Overall, I say buy and enjoy

good cd but where is Cordialatron, and why do i have to get it on the import? What is the point of leaving off 2 songs?

if you want all the caustic window songs you'll be missing:

from Joyrex J4: 1)popcorn 2)AFX 114 (AFX11) 3) CORDIALATRON (awesome track)

from Joyrex J5 1) R2D2

get the import......

I just got my disc today. it's simply superb. it's classic RDJ. it flows so well. we're lucky to have this disc, otherwise there are many people who would have never heard these songs.
i'm a bit puzzled by what a few people said in their reviews about the missing track though. i didnt buy the import, buy my disc contains "cordialatron" and "AFX 114". the only ones i am missing are "popcorn" and "R2 D2". those songs serve more as a musical joke from richard than anything. BUY IT!

While this may sound like a cheap Chemical Brothers rip-off to some, I advise all to remember that the material comprising this collection was originally released in 1992 and the Chemical Brothers' first album was released in 1995. In this way, I view Aphex Twin somewhat like I view The Beatles: you don't have to like everything they did, but you have to respect the fact that it paved the way for a generation of music to follow.

Personally, though, I do feel that this is a great compilation. From the straight-ahead hard groove of Joyrex J4 to the smooth beats of On The Romance Tip to the gritty introspectivity of We Are The Music Makers [Hardcore Mix], this album covers a broad range of ideas while still managing to retain a cohesive style.

I'm disappointed by the lack of Cordialatron. The other omitted tracks, however, you can live without: Popcorn and R2-D2 are nothing more than "cute" songs and AFX II isn't really so much a song as it is a one-minute loop.

And come on: you HAVE to love Pigeon Street. Check out the RealAudio clip Amazon put up, because it's the whole song.

Caustic Window is RDJ at his most bizarre and experimental. The sound is truly caustic, and scratches at your eardrums in a not-quite-pleasent manner. If you like the Aphex song "Ventolin," you'd get a kick out of Caustic Window. It's about as subtle as a kick in the neck.

This CD is a compilation (duh) of some of his earlier EPs of various sorts, and focus on driving beats. Songs like "astroblaster," "fantasia," and "Humanoid Must Not Escape" are daemonic at best in their frenzy. And look no further than "Clayhill Dub" for floor-shaking bass (and little else). And if you can control your giggling with the cheesey "Pigeon Street," please let me know.

So, if you're in the mood to have your musical taste stretched (and perhaps enlightened and expanded), by all means give this a try. Don't say I didn't warn you, though.

This Album Containing Most Of The Unrealeased Tracks From The Joyrex J4, Joyrex J5 and Joyrex J9 E.P.'s. This Album has tracks with the AFX Style to them, With Explosive tracks Such As Joyrex J4,With Fastpace synth and bass, Afx 114 which is africian Drums Exploding With a Strange Scratching synth in the background, Then Joyrex J5 is very symilar To Joyrex J4 And Very Entertaining.The Garden Of Cinmiri (Witch can be heart in a Firestone Commercial From a Few years back witch one a Award For best Special Effects) And We are The Music Makers(Hardcore Mix) Are Probally the Best tracks on the album. WIth A Hard Aphex Twin Style, This Is A Wonderful album and Is not a waste of money at all

This is RdJ. If you like beats that make the analogue wav.s in your head jump and rattle, then you'll like this album. If you are dissappointed that there are no real melodies(for the most part) and wish that is sounded more like Polygon Window or "Come to daddy", then go buy them. If you already have them, then, Quiet! The main reason that RDj is so very popular is because of his ablility to be so diverse. In this album he takes a trip down caustic lane. On this lane you'll find that melodies take a backdrop to accentuate the fine quality beats that ruin ones speakers. There are a few light tracks, i.e Caustic Jingle/pigeon street. Jedi/on the romance tip. and cordialtron. those should be enough to make fans of the rdj album like this release. But. Fans of the classics will love Fantasia, Garden of Linmiri(sp?), Industro garbage beats. Fantasia could be boasted as the most hardcore track of all time. From its porno samples to the distorted 303, you'll most likely hate this track the first time. Yet one night after coming home in a pissed-off drunk mood thinking about how your girlfriend cheated on youwill change your mind, and you'll think, Mozart never sounded so beautiful...i know i did.......

Peace out