Customer Reviews

Chosen Lords

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm convinced that no matter what Richard D. James does at this point in his career, there's no way that he'll please everyone. Perhaps he's realized this as well, and he's content to toss some music out into the world whenever he feels like it (or like buying himself a new tank) and be done with it and not worry about what anyone says. He's always been a bit of a joker, and while it's been stated that the Analord series is his first new work since 2001, he could very well be still joking everyone and simply pulling tracks out of his self-professed archive of thousands of songs.

Regardless of whether the tracks were new or not, James did well for himself last year, releasing eleven 12"s (with a total of 41 tracks) under the AFX name on his Rephlex label. Each record went on to sell over 10,000 copies, but rather than releasing all the tracks on a 3CD set, he decided to whittle down the tracks onto a single disc. So yeah, again, he's probably not going to please everyone.

I haven't had a record player hooked up in years and while I was somewhat interested in hearing new work from Aphex Twin, I didn't feel like hunting down everything. Created largely on his collection of vintage and home-made synths, drum machines and other gadgets. Most of the tracks have a fairly classic feel, with hints of classic Detroit techno and other styles seeping through. In that regard, they feel like they could have been created at any point since his Richard D. James Album (or before), but there's still a whole lot of fun to be had here.

Because I haven't heard all 41 tracks in the series, I have no idea how I would sequence a disc of this nature, but Chosen Lords rips right into things with filtered, indecipherable vocals and hazy melodies floating over ripping beats on "Fenix Funk 5" and keeps right on going with the blistering "Reunion 2," which again allows some chattery vocal-textures to creep into the mix alongside hard-panned sweeping synths and all kinds of frenetic beat programming.

There are several places where the disc seems to lapse into very familiar territory, and at other times it definitely feels like it's coasting a bit. "Batine Acid," "Klopjob," and "Pitcard" all trace familiar melody arcs and don't seem to tread already re-hashed ground, but in other places it does seem like James is really making some leaps and bounds. The dark, electro-influenced "Crying In Your Face" is one of the most simple tracks on the release in terms of construction, but the gritty acid line and murky filtered vocals make it stand out, while the old-school "Boxing Day" seems to drift clear back to the glory days of the early 90s with its Warp Records Artificial Intelligence-era sound. In the end, haters will say he's not doing anything new, while fans will eat it up. I lean towards the latter, but can see the point of the former. That's not going to stop me from having a bit of fun, though.

(from almost cool music reviews)

Please keep my review up top by voting, because in this review I compare this release Chosen Lords with that of the entire Analord EPs/singles. you wont get that anywhere else because each Analord is a separate release and will have a separate review.

A little background, I am an avid AFX/RDJ/Aphex/Caustic windows/polygon window/etc. fan. I tend towards the more thoughtful and grower type tunes that James has put out. I consider SAW 1 to be some of the most beautiful music ever recorded on a satsifcation/enjoyment level approaching Mozart and Bach, as well as many B-sides and other hard to find beauties scattered throughout his discography. I am not a big fan of the drill n bass. some of its ok, but the hard core stuff is not for me.

How does one select from over 40 tunes down to just 10 ? Its impossible and by getting Chosen Lords and skipping the full series, you really are missing out on some wonderful music. The selected tunes tend to lean towards the frenetic, higher energy, knob twiddlers from the series, which is in my opinion, unfortunate. I wish they had released a 2 disc set with some of the less drilly/bleep-fart tunes. Be that as it may, I am sure this selection will stike a chord with some fans of AFX.

My personal selection (and suggestion to you) is seek out both Analord 2 and 8. All songs from both are on my personal Chosen Lord list. From there, its a smattering of others. I agree with the inclusion of Crying in your Face, Klopjob, the sprawling, evil XMD 5a and PWSteal.Ldpinch, the latter of which is more indicative of the controlled compositions on the series but underrepresented here.

With Stepping filter 101 from Analord 1, AFX Acid 04 (3rd track) from Analord 7, and W32.mydoom.AU from Analord 11, combined with the others I have listed, you'd have a 10+track Chosen Lords of your own that surpasses this release which, in some cases reflects songs that are non distinctive from the rest. Batine Acid for one shows up in numerous incantations in the series, but doesn't separate itself to warrant inclusion.

If you're looking for early AFX, SAW 1 type recordings, do yourself a favor and obtain Analord 2, or at the very, very least, get Phonatacid; arguabily the best song, IMHO, of the entire series; but I also like XMD 5a very much. Check me on it; if you're still a believer, continue on with my other suggestions.

Some may opine that contemplative, plain tracks like the ones I have suggested would leave you bored. Maybe. But even the most subdued Aphex track always contains an undercurrent of sinister menace.

The at times ridiculously good Chosen Lords is peak Aphex Twin. The songs he has chosen to include on this album from his Analord 12's are among the finest in his catalog. Because of the rich amount of material to choose from, there is not a single throwaway on the album. The remarkable consistancy and power of every song here is stunning.

Chosen Lords is more linear than 2001's Drukqs" and more focused and than The Richard James Album (1996), Come To Daddy (EP) (1997) or Windowliker (EP) (1998) all of which comprise some of the greatest electronic music ever recorded

Just based on pure technical excellence, Chosen Lords is Aphex Twin's finest release

Last year Richard released 11 vinyl EP's (42 or so songs in total), of in my opinion, some of the most emotional, colorful and haunting analogue music ever made (Analord 1-11). If that didn't seem like enough, he releases the first Analord(analord 10) with a $80 faux leather binder w/ 10 sleaves to hold all records.

Chosen Lords on the other hand comes in a cheap recycled cardboard digipak. Also, instead of being a 3-disc set of all the lords, it's only ten track's, and(in good o'l Richard D. James fashion) it leaves out some of the best, and most loved by fans tracks. I particularly miss AFX Acid 4, I'm Self Employed, Where's your Girlfriend and Bwoon Dub. That being said...

Overall Chosen Lords is stellar from start to finish. Fenix Funk 5, PWsteal.ldpinch.D and XMD 5a are three of the most brilliant dance song ever made. The weeping synth's and 303 lines in Crying in your Face are breathtaking. Pitcard is an absolute classic Aphex track, it's another great instance of his music evoking emotions and feeling's that are nostalgic and dreamlike. In fact, the whole album has an extremely heaving nostalgic dream-like feel, it could have easily been a realeased in the early 90's.
Though I feel Ricard left out a few of the best Lords on Chosen Lords, this is an amazing peice of music. This is a great choice for Aphex beginers too. And as far as pure dance music goes, this is Aphex Twin's best release to date.

Like most RDJ fans, I have resorted to picking up any scrap he chooses to release in this anxious post-aphex phase, but owning all the analord recordings may be a little too much. That's not to say that resorting to this compilation will satiate all of your analog needs, but hearing 10+ volumes, especially consecutively, can prove how limited in scope, arrangement, and materials this set is despite many pleasant surprises.

I assume most couldn't afford the hefty prices placed on those twelve inches which compromised the Analord series, to which this compilation serves as a nice representative. I also assume most who downloaded the series in full can choose a multitude of running orders to satisfy one's particular needs, and not necessarily be too disappointed by the "Chosen Lords" on display here.

That said, this was one of the best releases of the year. Where as Autechre go further in the realms of abstractness and humourless detachment in pursuit of sound art. AFX has ultimately reminded us that electronic music needn't be something as dry and disparagingly uncompromising.

What we have here, and is indeed, indicative of the Analord series as a whole, is a collection of fun, positive, quirky, and extremely melodic well composed acid tracks. Whilst not pushing boundaries or using his talents to textural extremities as once before; I think we all know James has absolutely nothing to prove on this score, and by regressing back to his analog equipment further indicates, a renewal that he's less about wanting to baffle, and more concerned with having fun being the general top class composer that he is and in the current climate of Warp/IDM music in general; this is a gasp of fresh acid air.

"Best of" selections made by the man Richard D. James himself. the product of a lifetime of groundbreaking work using complicated vintage analog synths. Essential to all electronica collections. i would recommend the whole 11 part series but it's only available in vinyl.

Some of the songs aren't very plausible to dance to if your playing at clubs, but you can get some very nice remixes and it has really given me some inspiration on long nights of new things to try. Really great cd overall. If you like any other Aphex Twin songs it is definitely worth it. I also love it because if you can't get some of his vinyls then this is a decent alternative, at least for me it was.

Your everyday Aphex Twin- nothing specific to get excited about, but an overall sound that's indispensable. If any other of his albums give you that special feeling, get this one.

this album is simply amazing. i agree with much of what others have said (in particular, angrymofo), so i'll keep this short. the bass lines on some of the tracks (i.e. track 5, which nobody else here seems to single out) will make you wet your pants! i've never even written a review before -- this album is so incredible that it fueled me to actually waste my time raving about it. totally worth the $! get it right now!!!