APHEX TWIN - SYRO

[J3FF3R00]

 

 

At this point, I wake up in the morning with a moment from this album in my head

 

yeah this is happening to me, and during the day I find some passages just appear and then I realise I'm humming them, the vocal peice in minipops especially but others too

 

I'm having a few days rest though, always careful of the overkill factor.....

The thought of me burning out this album terrifies me. I'm so into it right now. Especially the 1st 3 tracks, "180db_" and the last 3 tracks... And all of the others :)

 

I know lots of people saying they aren't stoked that there aren't any really "groundbreaking crazy mental insane mind warping brain exploding" moments on it like in 54 Cymru Beats or whatever, but I'm cool with that. I think it could add to the albums freshness and shelf life. Every album he puts out blows my mind in its own way, and this one is no exception.

It's just more restrained.

 

I've been playing the fuck out of it tho.

Edited September 24, 2014 by J3FF3R00

[Stock]

 

 

yeah this is happening to me, and during the day I find some passages just appear and then I realise I'm humming them, the vocal peice in minipops especially but others too

 

 

Same here, it's been probably a little hard for my co-workers not to hit me in the face but, hey,

[Guest Roksen Creek]

 

 

People were asking about freshness. What is fresh sounding? The amazing opening two tracks of this album! (I hadn't heard the live versions.)

 

What doesn't sound fresh at all? (As in, sounds a bit boring, for various reasons)... Most of the rest of the tracks, what with their retro-fetishism and kitschy melodies and sounds. Everyone is going down this sound route and I've heard those old drum machines and acid squiggles too many times, and done better. All the tracks except the first three pale in comparison to The Tuss, which shares some characteristics but seems far deeper.

I'm sure I remember in the Exai thread you were talking about Exai not being as deep as the likes of Confield and Draft, and I disagreed with you? I'm going to say the same here, I definitely think that tracks like the CIRCLONTs, Syro and Earth Portal are lot deeper (as in more layered, more going on, more subtelty, more complex) than anything by The Tuss.

 

Maybe I'm easier to please with new releases. I always seem to think these guys keep improving :)

I think that was 'Oversteps' - unless I'm remembering wrong! But I admit I was very wrong on that count.

 

I guess my tastes just don't gel so well with those old vintage drum machine sounds and blatantly synthy-synth lines. I should just enjoy what I can enjoy about the album and move on. I do hope this bent towards nostalgia and analog noodling lessens soon, but even if it doesn't I understand artists are free to do wha they want, and there's still plenty of amazing music to enjoy. :)

 

 

It was definitely Exai as I wasn't around for Oversteps and my memory doesn't stretch that far back

 

I do kind of get your point about the retro sounds. I think that's what might be throwing a lot of the more disappointed fans off? They want more alien sounds without a point of reference? In that sense I guess I'm lucky because I don't listen to all that much music throughout the year and so how used the sounds are don't bother me all that much. I just try to concentrate on what is there and take it for what it is. Even I must admit though, I do get a bit of an 80s feel listening to it at times (in a good way). I know reviewers got panned by WATMMers for saying that, but I can't help it

[baph]

Per Richard's interviews, maybe with a bit of reading between the lines, this is basically the non-masterpiece but warm hug/unrealesed live favorites collection of an album people were actively asking for. Warp went out of their way to make sure you knew we were starting off with the Manchester Track. I think they managed expectations very well, considering some expectations for this thing were going to be impossible to fulfill regardless of content.

 

I think the album is perfect for what it is. I'd love some tricky, difficult aphex, and soon, but Syro fills a space that needed filling, and it does it well. I didn't mean to make that sound sexual, sorry. I haven't spent much time with Syro yet but I'm definitely getting more out of subsequent listens, and having a lot of fun with it. It's not shallow music but it's really fun.

Anyway, on XMAS_EVET10, that warm, vaguely MFM/RDJA melody that comes in between the 4-5 minute mark almost made me get a nostalgic lump in my throat; hi Richard, it's very good to have you back, even if you never really left. I don't imagine that moment would be there had this been a new Tuss album, it's so goddamn Aphex Twin.

 

Don't begrudge anyone's opinion, negative or otherwise, but I did put some shit in my ears IRL, and it actually made the album sound significantly worse, so I think we can X-out that particular hypothesis, and please send me antibiotics

[juiceciuj]

just chiming in to say i purchased the vinyl and cd (from two different local record stores!) last nite (us release) and thoroughly enjoyed it. metz hifi is awesome syrobonkus is bonkers and piezoluminescence is lucious

[whylessness]

At this point, I wake up in the morning with a moment from this album in my head

yeah

 

altho i've been having awful nightmares lately

[Mag]

wow its been almost 300 pages. i remember the start and no syro. time fucking goes by, boys. time fucking goes by

[whylessness]

 

I guess my tastes just don't gel so well with those old vintage drum machine sounds and blatantly synthy-synth lines.

lmfao

[Friendly Foil]

This album is not challenging enough for me. I need more challenge.

[Stock]

just chiming in to say i purchased the vinyl and cd (from two different local record stores!) last nite (us release) and thoroughly enjoyed it. metz hifi is awesome syrobonkus is bonkers and piezoluminescence is lushious

 

fix't for ya

[Guest tudikas]

this thread was once a good place to find info i'm too lazy to gather.
now it's like being at the thanksgiving dinner table when my cousins bring up some off the wall republican talking points and encourage every one to have the dumbest circular arguments known to man.
it's like they ruin the whole point of having a holiday, to relax and enjoy.
new aphex is a blessing, not something to give yourself hemorrhoids over.
oh, and it's quite good.

[whylessness]

today i had a quiz on east asian geography

 

it was really hard to focus last night

 

today in class, i got really nervous; the map looked wrong somehow

 

turns out, i had the map upside down xD

 

my prof is letting me re-take the quiz during office hours

 

syro pls, i can't think straight bb

 

water, wood, metal, fire, earth, north, east, west, south, up, down, yin and yang are all mixed up

 

i can't live like this

 

actually i can, studies r fucked tho

[Parsifal]

Anyone willing to do the math:

 

APHEX TWIN SYRO

 

minipops 67 (source field mix) ................ 120.2

 

XMAS_EVET10 (thanaton3 mix) .................... 120

 

produk 29....................................... 101

 

4 bit 9d api+e+6............................... 126.26

 

180db_.......................................... 130

 

CIRCLONT6A (syrobonkus mix) ................... 141.98

 

fz pseudotimestretch+e+3....................... 138.85

 

CIRCLONT14 (shrymoming mix) ................... 152.97

 

syro u473t8+e (piezoluminescence mix) ......... 141.98

 

PAPAT4 (pineal mix) ............................ 155

 

s950tx16wasr10 (earth portal mix) ............. 163.97

 

aisatsana....................................... 102

 

Venue and equipment costs for

 

London listening event......................... £0.00163

 

Travel costs for journalist from

 

Belgium to London.............................. £0.00099

 

Digital editorial advertising in UK............ £0.01222

 

Online advertising in Belgium.................. £0.00166

 

One Stop racking and promotions in US.......... £0.00498

 

US Christmas promotions and marketing.......... £0.10208

 

Regional UK PR campaign including expenses..... £0.00306

 

UK press day expenses for Leah................. £0.00031

 

Production cost for

 

retail logo sticker for Japan.................. £0.00024

 

Travel from Italy to London for one journalist... £0.00166

 

Refreshments for LA listening party............ £0.00073

 

Online advertising in Sweden................... £0.00099

 

Creative contingency........................... £0.03708

 

Digital video network advertising in UK........ £0.01426

 

Production cost for

 

retail logo magnet for Japan................... £0.00177

 

Promo CDs for US radio promotion............... £0.00184

 

Shop displays at indie and

 

chain stores in Australia...................... £0.00338

 

Radio advertising in France.................... £0.01325

 

Promo CDs for US press promotion............... £0.00018

 

Postage costs for UK radio promotion mailout... £0.00061

 

Leah's taxi from Warp office to radio station.. £0.00006

 

500mm x 500mm square floor sticker............. £0.00425

 

Retail marketing and shop displays in France... £0.00663

 

Outdoor postering in Italy..................... £0.00066

 

Steven's travel to UK sales team presentation.. £0.00002

 

Hotel rooms for international label managers... £0.00311

 

Promotion team in France....................... £0.00994

 

Finished copies for promotional use............ £0.00147

 

Online advertising in Australia................ £0.00338

 

Postering in cafés in Sydney,

 

Melbourne and Brisbane......................... £0.00176

 

Production cost for retail

 

small logo badge for Japan..................... £0.00188

 

Outdoor postering in Berlin, Cologne,

 

Hamburg and other cities....................... £0.0265

 

File tracking pre leak and

 

monitored take-downs of illegal download links.£0.00041

 

A2 retail poster for Japan..................... £0.00035

 

12x12" US retail flats ........................ £0.00122

 

Production cost for promo kit for Japan........ £0.00118

 

Refreshments for Montreal listening party...... £0.00036

 

Printing of posters for

 

outdoor display in Australia................... £0.00555

 

Postage costs for

 

retail promo mailout in Germany................ £0.00033

 

UK Christmas promotions and marketing.......... £0.03463

 

Online advertising in Norway................... £0.00099

 

pre-orders at independent retail......... £0.00365

 

Promotion and marketing in Spain......... £0.00331

 

Venue hire and refreshments for

 

Sydney listening party..................... £0.0018

 

Postage costs for

 

radio promo mailout in Germany........... £0.00099

 

Outdoor postering in Australia........... £0.00789

 

Retail marketing and racking in Australia £0.00203

 

Chain store racking and promotion in Canada £0.01215

 

Room hire for Warp planning meeting

 

with Richard............................. £0.00122

 

Emails, placements and promotions

 

with web stores in US.................... £0.01519

 

Venue hire and refreshments for

 

Tokyo listening party.................... £0.00236

 

Promotion team in Germany................ £0.00331

 

Hotel in Seattle for album playback meeting £0.00049

 

Independent In-store racking

 

and promotions in US..................... £0.00577

 

Postage costs for

 

press promotion mailout in Japan......... £0.00075

 

A3 retail posters........................ £0.00145

 

European travel and expenses for Nicolas £0.00489

 

Venue hire for Montreal listening party.. £0.00122

 

Holiday and end of year retail marketing

 

and racking in Germany................... £0.00331

 

Venue hire for NYC listening party....... £0.00729

 

Production cost for

 

retail clear folder for Japan............ £0.00283

 

Watermark CDs for Sync promo mailout..... £0.00029

 

Refreshments for NYC listening party..... £0.00073

 

Online advertising in Germany............ £0.00828

 

Postage costs for US radio promotion mailout £0.00304

 

Hotel in San Francisco for

 

album playback meeting................... £0.00083

 

Printing of posters for retail displays

 

and café poster run in Australia......... £0.00142

 

Backline for LA listening party.......... £0.00243

 

Finished copy CDs for Sync promotion..... £0.00073

 

Billboards in Japan...................... £0.02355

 

Josh's flights to playback meetings with DSPs

 

(NYC / SF / Seattle / NYC) ................ £0.0019

 

Online advertising in Finland............ £0.00099

 

Mechanical royalty in US................. £0.38435

 

Print advertising in Groove, Spex

 

and other publications................... £0.03313

 

Print advertising in Netherlands......... £0.00398

 

Print advertisement in Italy............. £0.00464

 

Promo copies for UK radio promotion...... £0.00081

 

Outdoor and Metro postering in France.... £0.02451

 

Warp staff listening digital promos...... £0.00008

 

Shop decoration and racking in Italy..... £0.00166

 

Cinema advertising in France............. £0.00497

 

Website bandwidth costs ................. £0.00204

 

Window posters in Dublin, Ireland........ £0.00232

 

Shop displays for

 

independent retail in Belgium............ £0.00083

 

Online advertising in Italy.............. £0.00166

 

Digital video network advertising in US.. £0.02868

 

Croissants for DAZED & CONFUSED listening £0.00002

 

Discounts and rebates for retail racking

 

and promotions in US..................... £0.00389

 

Design by TOR'........................... £0.01834

 

Online advertising in Denmark............ £0.00099

 

Production cost for

 

retail large logo badge for Japan........ £0.00165

 

Promotion and marketing team in Norway... £0.00166

 

Lunch for Leah and UK journalist........... £0.0001

 

Promotion team travel to Berlin.......... £0.00133

 

Design of adverts and promotional material £0.00611

 

Street stenciling and projections in LA / NYC £0.01215

 

Promotional CDs for Japan................ £0.00045

 

James's flight to Berlin for press pass.. £0.00081

 

Kei's expenses for meeting with pressing plant £0.00005

 

UK radio promotion campaign.............. £0.00611

 

Summer retail campaigns in Australia...... £0.0018

 

Online advertising in Spain.............. £0.00133

 

Cost of email communications to Aphex Twin

 

and Warp mailing lists .................. £0.00081

 

James's hotel for press pass ............ £0.00041

 

Digitisation from tape archive copy of

 

The Making of Windowlicker................ £0.0009

 

Printed US press releases ................ £0.0001

 

Retail marketing and racking in Germany.. £0.00994

 

Postage costs for US VIP/Artist mailout.. £0.00049

 

Leah's travel costs to UK radio station.. £0.00002

 

Racking and promotion at chain retail,

 

one stops and indies in Japan............ £0.03768

 

London Underground, billboards and posters

 

around the UK including production....... £0.10594

 

Print advertising in France.............. £0.02484

 

Production cost for retail poster for Japan £0.00042

 

Coffee for Leah and BBC radio producer... £0.00002

 

Postering in Copenhagen and Aarhus....... £0.00166

 

Refreshments for Warp album playback..... £0.00022

 

Print advertising in RIF RAF and

 

other publications....................... £0.00696

 

Online advertising in Australia.......... £0.00225

 

Dinner and refreshments for planning meeting £0.00196

 

Online advertising in France............. £0.00497

 

Print advertising including The Fader,

 

Vice and others.......................... £0.09357

 

Car hire in San Francisco for

 

album playback meeting................... £0.00068

 

Car hire in Seattle for album playback meeting £0.00019

 

Promotion and marketing team in Denmark.. £0.00166

 

Journalist travel expenses

 

from Germany to London................... £0.00199

 

Venue hire for Toronto listening party... £0.00122

 

Pay per click digital advertising in UK.. £0.01019

 

Retail marketing and racking in Denmark.. £0.00099

 

Other online advertising................. £0.01426

 

Postage costs for UK radio promotion mailout £0.00041

 

Outdoor postering in Brussels, Antwerp & Gent £0.01988

 

Taxis for planning meeting day in London. £0.00057

 

James's expenses for press pass ......... £0.00041

 

Online advertising in Netherlands........ £0.00166

 

Promotional packs with UK web stores..... £0.00489

 

Purchase of Caustic Window download codes

 

for Warp staff and contacts.............. £0.00124

 

Printed press release for Japan.......... £0.00006

 

Food and drinks for

 

Warp planning meeting with Richard....... £0.00051

 

London venue hire for

 

planning meeting with international team. £0.00143

 

Social media digital advertising in US.... £0.0316

 

Holiday and end of year retail marketing

 

and racking in Belgium................... £0.00331

 

Retail marketing and racking in Belgium.. £0.00282

 

Shop displays for

 

independent retail in Netherlands........ £0.00166

 

Flights and trains to London for Alison,

 

Boris, Ingmar, Jens, Sabine, Teo and Viron £0.00447

 

Print and online advertising in Japan..... £0.0471

 

CD-Rs for UK radio promotion............. £0.00035

 

Printed plastic bags for shops........... £0.02756

 

B1 retail poster for Japan............... £0.00106

 

Watermarked CD promos.................... £0.00118

 

11x17 US retail posters.................. £0.00122

 

Refreshments for Toronto listening party. £0.00036

 

Postage costs for UK press mailout........ £0.0006

 

UK radio promotion campaign............. £0.006113

 

UK radio promotion campaign............. £0.006113

 

Print advertising in Canada.............. £0.00243

 

Postage costs for US press promotion mailout £0.00012

 

Bandwidth cost for

 

promotional download link of the album... £0.00306

 

US radio promotion campaign.............. £0.00486

 

Travel costs for journalist

 

from Netherlands to London............... £0.00166

 

Postage costs for

 

US promoter/tastemaker mailout........... £0.00049

 

Shota, Masa and Kiriko's expenses for

 

meetings and lunches with writers........ £0.00024

 

Food expenses for press trip in Australia £0.00014

 

Racking and promotion with chain retail in UK £0.00407

 

Billboards and posters in NYC / LA /

 

San Francisco, Chicago and other cities.. £0.04861

 

Beer and snacks for Q Magazine meeting... £0.00004

 

Venue hire for LA listening party........ £0.00486

 

Listening events for

 

media and retail in Berlin and Cologne... £0.00331

 

Room hire for Warp album playback

 

at screening rooms....................... £0.00134

 

Promotions with UK indie music stores.... £0.00611

 

Digital editorial advertising in US...... £0.01628

 

Album digital servicing to

 

radio via MPN in Germany................. £0.00073

 

Backline hire for NYC listening party.... £0.00194

 

Social media digital advertising in UK.... £0.0163

 

Refreshments and lunch for

 

promo team album listening in Paris ..... £0.00043

 

Retail marketing and racking in Sweden... £0.00099

 

Site builds for darkweb, clearweb and mobile £0.00611

 

Print advertising in UK.................. £0.05857

 

Retail laminates for retail in Australia. £0.00122

 

Digital mastering including studio time,

 

running parts and upload................. £0.02286

 

External promotion team for Japan........ £0.00471

 

Logo stickers............................. £0.0052

 

Racking and promotions with Independent

 

Coalition networks (CIMS / AIMS / MMN) in US £0.02838

 

Production of short Aphex Twin logo films £0.01215

 

AO retail posters......................... £0.0035

 

Production cost for

 

retail shopping bag for Japan............ £0.00212

 

A2 retail posters........................ £0.00224

 

Christine's lunch/coffee expenses

 

for meetings with US writers............. £0.00036

 

Royalty to Richard from album downloads (50%) £1.43538

 

Pay per click digital advertising in US.. £0.02066

 

Journalist travel expenses

 

from France to London.................... £0.00133

 

Retail marketing and racking in Netherlands £0.00099

 

Written and produced by Richard D. James

 

Published by BMG / Chrysalis Mastered by Mandy Parnell

 

except Minipops 67 by Beau Thomas MITDRm

 

MITDRm Logo

 

Aphex is a registered trademark of

 

Aphex Systems Limited

 

and is used by permission 02014 Warp Records Limited @ 2014 Warp Records Limited Warp Records PO Box 25378 London NW5 1GL UK

 

Warp.net / Records

 

WARP Logo

 

Aphex Twin Logo

 

WARPCDD247

 

I guess I have to be the one nerdy fan that the TDR designer talked about (he said something about them not having added it all up but that someone would). Based on the handy text provided by oOOo my computer tells me that the expenses add up to £3.198846.

[Mag]

btw guys who claim it to be not too "innovative". I think you are forgetting one important thing - the peak of innovations in music itself. In the 80-90s you could do whatever you wanted - invent drum n bass, trance, acid, jungle and idm because technology and synths were still kinda new and people just haven't twiddled all the knobs and tried all different structure of patterns. It was blank list.

 

As time went, we have discovered almost everything about sound synthesis, heard almost all possible combination of waveforms and beats imaginable. It's not that album isnt innovative by itself, it's the nature of sound that is creating the barrier. We can't jump higher because focking physics and laws of nature. Before it was much easier to invent and shock people with new shit. Now it's not.

 

Syro is like that - nothing really groundbreaking, but done on the most highest level in it's own kind. he just polished his sound to absolute.

[Soloman Tump]

 

Mid week album chart from the bbc

[Friendly Foil]

Barbra Streisand is still alive?

[Soloman Tump]

Barbra Streisand is still alive?

I thought the same about Leonard Cohen

[Guest trananhhung]

Am i the only one amazed by seeing Syro on the top of worldwide charts? Number one all over? We're talking aphex twin here. Not elton John. His music during the last 10 years created an enormous legion of fans that were starving for new music.

 

Enjoy the dinner everyone. It's delicious.

[baph]

Am i the only one amazed by seeing Syro on the top of worldwide charts? Number one all over?

 

I believe that was merely a 'shop.

[Vaaler9]

Wow.

 

On amazon:

#4 overall

#1 in 'dance'

#2 in 'alternative rock' <-lol but still..

 

I'm willing to bet some record is broken with how many LPs were sold as well. I'm generally a cheap bastard and couldn't throw money fast enough at an expensive triple LP that I haven't even heard yet (at the time).

 

I understand he is pretty damn popular.. but Christ. If he was surprised by the Caustic Window support, he must be reeling now. World <3 Aphex Twin.

[flacid]

Gets better with every listen.

[Kavinsky]

btw guys who claim it to be not too "innovative". I think you are forgetting one important thing - the peak of innovations in music itself. In the 80-90s you could do whatever you wanted - invent drum n bass, trance, acid, jungle and idm because technology and synths were still kinda new and people just haven't twiddled all the knobs and tried all different structure of patterns. It was blank list.

 

As time went, we have discovered almost everything about sound synthesis, heard almost all possible combination of waveforms and beats imaginable. It's not that album isnt innovative by itself, it's the nature of sound that is creating the barrier. We can't jump higher because focking physics and laws of nature. Before it was much easier to invent and shock people with new shit. Now it's not.

 

Syro is like that - nothing really groundbreaking, but done on the most highest level in it's own kind. he just polished his sound to absolute.

Amen

 

 

[Guest bitroast]

 

btw guys who claim it to be not too "innovative". I think you are forgetting one important thing - the peak of innovations in music itself. In the 80-90s you could do whatever you wanted - invent drum n bass, trance, acid, jungle and idm because technology and synths were still kinda new and people just haven't twiddled all the knobs and tried all different structure of patterns. It was blank list.

 

As time went, we have discovered almost everything about sound synthesis, heard almost all possible combination of waveforms and beats imaginable. It's not that album isnt innovative by itself, it's the nature of sound that is creating the barrier. We can't jump higher because focking physics and laws of nature. Before it was much easier to invent and shock people with new shit. Now it's not.

 

Syro is like that - nothing really groundbreaking, but done on the most highest level in it's own kind. he just polished his sound to absolute.

Amen

 

 

 

 

I like the arguments that Syro isn't as innovate as his previous albums and make explicit references to previous albums like drukqs or Richard D James album.

like, "this album isn't innovative because it doesn't sound like this album" is even remotely an applicable argument. lols.

[J3FF3R00]

Just finally got my LP that I pre-ordered from Bleep over a month ago.

I got ANOTHER drop card and one sticker.

I now have 4 drop cards.

 

I was really hoping it would come with that 12" window decal I heard about. Alas.

[baph]

Just finally got my LP that I pre-ordered from Bleep over a month ago.

I got ANOTHER drop card and one sticker.

I now have 4 drop cards.

 

I was really hoping it would come with that 12" window decal I heard about. Alas.

 

Mine's been sitting in my building's leasing office/reception since yesterday because they are only open when I am at work. Probably for the best actually, since the Persistence of Vision LP I bought got stuffed into our tiny mailbox in a way no amount of well-thought-out packaging could fully survive. I'm hoping Syro's sitting in an air-conditioned back office and not sitting under the cat food we also apparently just had delivered.

 

Got the new Pro-Ject set up for a listen and I'm getting antsy as fuck up in hurrr.

Edited September 24, 2014 by baph