Aphex Twin - I Care Because You Do

None of the chirpy, intricate, eclectic tracks on I Care Because You Do sound dated, certainly not in any heinous way. Richard James's work stands outside any genre cages and continues to satisfy dedicated listeners. This is at least partially due to James's twisted, British-bad-boy sense of humor: the title of the disc alone is something of an ironic display. I Care Because You Do is a sound introduction to James's peculiar, personal work, which ranges from symphonic to spartan to relaxing to unnerving, though it generally manages to be all those at once. The disc is cleverly constructed and juicily modern, and it's easy to see why critics, struggling to understand James's emergent "ambient techno," early on compared him to minimalist composers such as Philip Glass and Steve Reich. James was clearly influenced by these pioneers, but his music is more about stretching the limits of what one perceives to be music, of sound itself. --Mike McGonigal Amazon.com essential recording

My first exposure to Richard D. James,

After hearing a lot about Aphex Twin and doing a bit of research, i went out and bought this album fairly cheap. I got home, and the first track "Acrid Avid Jam Shred" comes on with subtle distortion and a drum beat. After a minute or so, the synths kick in and i immediately see what i'm in for; much to my approval.

The album consists of repeatative hardcore breakbeats, accompanied by some calming chords and melodies occasionaly, and like out of nowhere these breakbeats start getting fiddled around with. To be honest, i wasn't sure what i was meant to make of it at first. I kept expecting more sounds to kick in over the beats, but they didn't...and after a while i realized i like it this way.

The album doesn't at all sound the same though...if you're not convinced yet, then do realize there are some very mellow composed songs on here (which fit in well) and nearly sums up Aphex Twin's capability to create a huge range of very different sounding songs.

For a newcomer to Aphex Twin (or perhaps this type of genre even), get this first and see what you think. July 24, 2008

Electronic Chutzpah

Iron forged industrial music assemblings stagger ones senses. Fried in acid, resisting catalogue, peerless it stands alone. An uncurbed theme dominates throughout. Yet these off centered abstractions bask in loyal fan obsequiousness. However this profound music cannot evolve. Time has proven its offspring projects destined to be repetative princes. November 13, 2007

A Masterpiece

I have been in love with this album for so many years, I weary at the thought of writing a review of it. I will say that it is my favorite album of Richard's. Listen to it and decide for yourself, why don't you? :) August 10, 2007

Great music

Richard James is a musical genius. While some of his work is unlistenable, the ones that are are true works of art. Clearly, the best of its kind.
July 21, 2007

Essential Twin

This may not be Aphex Twin's best album, but it is probably his most complete, incorporating virtually every facet of Richard D. James' musical personality. This is guaranteed to be some of the most unique, haunting and intriguing work you will ever hear.

It begins with Acrid Avid Jam Shred, probably the most straightforward piece on the album, beginning with halting percussion and slowly building into a strangely majestic yet playful jam, only to fall back onto the driving percussion and U-turn in a completely different direction. Then the listener is dropped into the squelchy, rubbery bass of The Waxen Pith, which sounds like the inside of a honeycomb or a plant's stem. It's a tad tedious, but certainly has an interesting blend of instruments. Wax The Nip feels like a precursor to some of Aphex's harder IDM to come, with rushing drums underscoring childlike wonderment embodied in joyous, choral synths. It sounds like skydiving over waterfalls, then landing on your feet and running through green fields.

Icct Hedral (Edit) is a journey into the heart of an ancient temple housing some item of unspeakable evil, while all the while something is clawing further and further into your brain. Headphones are a must. Ventolin is near impossible to listen to, it's so painful - you get the feeling that Aphex is having a bit of a larf at our expense, since the song behind the shrill, obnoxious high frequencies is really cool. Come on you Slags! is no balm on the ears either, with chaotic screechy synths blaring over an obnoxious valley girl conversation which fades in and out of coherence. Yet no matter how difficult these three are to listen to, their genius is undeniable.

Start As You Mean To Go On is one of the more calming tracks on the album, despite the persistent, pounding, constantly morphing beat. It sounds like high-speed nostalgia. Wet Tip Hen Ax is pure weirdness, and reminds me simultaneously of eagles soaring over cliffs and alien invasions. Mookid is one of the most soothing Aphex songs, and reminds me of the quieter moments of childhood, with that signature hint of weirdness RDJ always brings to the table. Alberto Balsalm is a walk down the block, accented by a sound like someone rattling a stick against the iron bars of a fence. Ambient synths and calm melodies begin to fill the atmosphere. Then the track abruptly drops down a well to land in a basement full of clanging percussion, only to climb back out and reemerge in daylight.

Cow Cud is a Twin begins with a very distracting sample of a door slamming and background yelling which is calculated to throw the listener off guard. The rest of the track is a slow-paced jam with a hooky bassline and intriguing sound effects. Finally, there's Next Heap With, a fully-orchestral piece that combines the feelings you could get from several tracks on the album, including but not limited to Icct Hedral, Wet Tip Hen Ax and Acrid Avid Jam Shred. A fitting summation of the musical ideas RDJ has been exploring throughout.

It says a lot that the only way to communicate my feelings about this album is to explore it track by track. Richard D. James is truly special, in that he makes music that is indescribable, yet completely emotionally resonant. An artist you must hear before you die. November 15, 2006

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