AFX
Chosen Lords
(Rephlex)
The twisted musical magician known variouly as Aphex Twin, AFX, Power Pill, Caustic Window and a slew of other monikers has released his first original full-length album in five years. And, thankfully, Chosen Lords should assure fans disappointed with his 2001 offering, drukqs, that he's back on form.
The album has its beginnings last year, when Aphex Twin (real name Richard D. James) announced the Analord series, for which he would release a vinyl-only EP every month for a year. Of the 40-something tracks that resulted, James chose 10 for this release, hence the title.
The series sees James return to his earlier acid techno sound. What defines this album, as with much of his best work, is his ability to experiment without getting carried away. There's subtlety and melody to even his most freaky tracks. Complementing this is his ability to shock. Crying in Your Face starts with a deep and tuneful bassline, but just when you soften to the rhythm, AFX breaks the beat and reminds you who you're dealing with.
