Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 

this music is great for eating bamboo

The guy was 13 when he started producing the music for this album. Imagine that: a middle-schooler likely invented IDM.

Years ago, back in 1989 in fact, a guy started work in the company I worked for in north london. I can't remember his name it being so long ago but I remember he came from Hinckley in Leicester. I remember he used to talk highly of Aphex twin, This Mortal Coil and 4AD records who I had never heard of before. he had a friend who had a sound system of very high quality back then and they used to listen to Aphex twin etc whilst getting stoned. I was more into Hip hop at the time and wasn't that clued up about ambient, that came a year or two later. I introduced him to NWA and he loved that, anyway I digress, He became a good friend over that summer and we partied at the town & country club in Kentish Town (Wendy May's locomotion) but i never listened to any of the music he spoke so highly of. Fast forward 26 years and I'm listening to this and it's blown me away. Wow i wish i got into Aphex Twin back in the late 80's/early 90's when he first spoke about them. Time flies fast and the years roll by so very quickly. I turned 50 two months ago. I have a happy marriage, I have a good career. What have i learnt over the years? It's important to unplug via what ever method is your choice/poison. Don't ever listen to negativity, keep pushing forward. Love your family and your friends, no one else is that important. I wish I could meet my old friend from hinckley back in 89.

Now I know where DIE ANTWOORD​ got their riff for the 'Ugly Boy'. 18:10

The first time I listened to Xtal was yesterday and I liked it but I didn't know why everyone thought it was so good. Today I told my history teacher that my classmate was being bullied, I asked him to speak in private at break and we went into to another room and I told him what was going on and I broke down because I was bullied for a long time time before and it really resonated with me because I thought in my head that I was being the hero that I wished was there for me. I hope you never feel the helplessness of crying in front of your history teacher, but my tears then could have prevented thousands more tears for my classmate. It was only then as i was writing in my diary 5 minutes ago about this, (I want to record all my experiences for when I'm older, I'm 15) when I noticed myself humming Xtal in my head. Now I cherish this song

3 Million views. He's officially completely mainstream.

perfect for a hungover rainy sunday

Xtal is the sound the Sun makes when it rises above the Horizon..

I'd be interested to know which of these tracks was actually from 1985

Xtal might be the most perfect piece of electronic music ever produced.

Selected Ambient Works 2085-2092

time is an illusion.

The fact that these tunes were produced while Thatcher was still prime minister blows my fucking mind.

Hi Ben! I'm Beatrice. Nice to meet you.

I first came across Selected Ambient Works when rooting through a box of random tapes I found under the bed in my first student houseshare. It was a grim October and I was living in a house on the cliffs of Rottingdean near Brighton, miles from campus and my friends, and I was feeling rather lonely. When I played this album, it was like my mind was being hugged and bought a pint. From the opening synths and gentle boom of Xtal, Ambient Works is a cosy duvet on a bleak February morning, a Mars Bar after swimming, a snow-covered hill on a sunny day - full of soothing melodies and quiet spaces. Now, 13 years later, I still put it on when I can't sleep, or when I feel cold or sad, and it greets me like an old friend. I played the tape til it broke and had to buy the CD. I was very much a rock fan when I came across this album, but it introduced me to a side of electronica I hadn't previously been aware of - the after-party, the come down, the morning after, the walk in the park with your headphones on. Apparently it was massively influential and I suppose that is one reason for picking up this piece of history. But a far greater reason is the timeless beauty of the music. Buy it, love it forever.

Sounds like Brian Eno broke into Krafwerk's laboratory, stole some old rusty tubes and circuits, flew behind the moon for 3 months, compressed the years of 1978-1989 into fuzzy purple and silver acid & DMT capsules, fused it with his own DNA and came back to earth with a half-frozen 2" tape reel. cool stuff man

I'm just discovering Aphex Twin. Really rather splendid

You know an album is good when you're listening to it and you forget that you're sober.

This album helped me calm down for tests all the time, passed my finals thanks to this one.

The one that goes beep beep boop boop?

I usually suffer anxiety attacks on the train home, social situations Rev. Thought I'd try listening to something 'ambient' and came across this. Didn't realise how much I like aphex twin. Proper chilled out all the home. Thanks for putting this on RU-vid. You helped someone today. 😋

Xtal is still one of my favourite tracks - a masterpiece of beauty, an amazing melody mixed with bliss sonorities, god

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

Oh my god the tune of Xtal had been the aural screensaver in my brain for about 6 months and I just couldn't remember which artist, which album, which tune. I put a BoC playlist on as I was working and it must've run out and just continued to this. The joy and relief I'm experiencing right now is immense.

I read somewhere that the fourth track was actually co-composed with Bach when they studied supermassive cluster formations together with Jimi Hendrix in the Brookins Institute in the early '50s for CIA.

Ptolemy has to be his catchiest tune. That bassline.

Listening to this while studying for a macroeconomics exam.

Best Ambient Album ever created IMO. Its not IDM but Ambient Techno.

LISTENING TO THIS WHILE LOOKING FOR JOBS FOR JSA AT 5AM

xtal has more bass than most r/b bangers. My sub eats this song

The most important thing to remember is all of this album is a heartfelt emotional expression through music. It is not a way to make money. It is not an attempt to have a 'Hit' record. It is not an attempt at becoming famous. It is simply someone making music because that is what they are driven to do. I had a copy which I made on tape and took it with me on a solo adventure and it was always a comfort to listen to, as well as a novelty for others I met.

I cannot begin to tell how much this album means to me. I don't care what Mr James has done since, this is as important as anything by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk or Joy Division when it comes to innovation and creativity. This album kept me warm when the world was dark and cold.

Beginning of Xtal makes me cry. Simple as that.

Kangaroos are the T-Rex version of deer

Clicking through random albums in the recommended section, this comes up an you're like WHOAA

first two tracks are among the best things made on this planet

this reminds me of sitting on the bus playin this in my walkman back in 93... long bus ride home coming back from raves... part of me forever... makes me wanna cry then takes me to xstacy

NO ADS!? Amazing.

2010, Barcelona Razzmatazz club is packed - crowd including myself literally started chanting the melody of heliosphan when Richard started playing it.. The chills man. Best gig I ever been at. May the cosmos bless that man

Apex Twin and calculus can change your life.

Friday nights in 92/92, getting the 18.36 Thameslink from Farringdon to Leatherhead with this on my Walkman. Beautiful.

I listened to this genre of music from when I was very young. There is something otherworldly about this genre that cannot be found in today's electronic music. This is one of Aphex Twin's best albums. It is something Yuri Alekseyevich should have listened to when he was in the cosmos)

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 Selected Ambient Works 85-forever

Richard D. James is an innovator of electronic music. He's already a legend I say.

If this was released this week nobody would ever realise as it's still very much current and fresh sounding till this day....Timeless!

i keep coming back to AFX when winter falls

RU-vid loading circle fits perfectly with the vinyl holes '-'

This is a timeless masterpiece of musical innovation

Honestly this is one of the best records of all time

i come back to this album periodically whenever i need "spiritual support"

That last track's glitches only confirm that AFX was ahead of his time.

It can't get any better than Ageispolis, it has it all. Bass, Ambient, and Up-Tempo all at the same time because Aphex is a freaking genius.

This album is definitely exceptional. Very ambient and minimalistic but at the same time full of warmth and energy .How can it be so beautiful, melancholic, positive and electric at the same time? I love it, specially Heliosphan

14:01 is neat

I don't want to advertise myself, I just want to tell this I hope someone cares at least a bit. I just want to get this off my chest. I played with the idea of becoming a musician, sort of like a electronic music producer, for quite a while now. I would love to make beats. I'm currently 18 years old and I love music with all my heart, I can listen to it 24/7, music was always like a friend of mine in the darkest of moments when there was nobody to rely on, you don't have to explain your feelings, nor to get sympathy and try to get understood by anybody, you just put it on and it instantly speaks to you. You just feel it. I don't know if I would even be here now if music didn't help me to move on in life. But I don't want to preach so... now the problem is... I think my dream seems pretty foolish.. at least to me, the chances of it going wrong are so high, that people would even care about it are pretty low, there are already a ton of producers out there who are incredibly talented, and to make a decent living out of it is even more unlikely. My heart tells me yes, but my brain tells me otherwise and not to be caught up in such dreams. I don't even have a sampler, keyboards, MPC or anything right now. I starded recently messing with Fruity Loops, i know it's not the best but it's a decent start, and I noticed I have quite a good ear and talent for harmonies, melodies, structure, tempo ect. for a beginner... I wouldn't know which direction my music would take but I love IDM, Ambient and hip hop instrumentals and artists like Aphex Twin, Burial, Nicolas Jaar, Flying Lotus (the list is endless). It will probably be also sample-based, but I would definetly try to progress and make every single time something new and fresh, that's just how I like it. Challenging. But for right now my dream remains only a dream, however, I also don't want to be full of regrets when it's too late, I'm so conflicted and undecisive on what to do. If it works out I would finally be able to start all over again, far away and be happy, connecting with people with the art I created. Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope I could reach out to someone.

Studying fungi for Biology right now. It's strangely fitting...

17:49 Die Antwoord stole it lol

Literally the best album ever.

This is a masterpiece its no wonder why aphex twin is respected.

I´ve been listening to this album more than 20 years!!!!! and still so fresh!!!! I never get tired of hearing it....

This is really good, I can see why this album got so much praise. Listening to this, I bet how much it influenced electronic music in videogames.

I could listen to that 1st song on repeat for hours flying my UFO

I had admittedly never heard this album before and I'm really liking it. A few days ago I heard for the first time the song "Ugly Boy" by Die Antwoord, and I loved it. Then I'm listening to this album for the first time on the same day, and suddenly at 18:16 it's like, "What!!? Why is Ugly Boy playing?" Die Antwoord sampled from Aphex Twin, but I had no idea of this. It was a strange coincidence to hear them both (original tune and re-dux track) on the same day for the first time.

omg i don't think i've ever heard this so clearly and just perfect. thanks!

Heliosphan activates the creative mode of my brain on ultra settings

absolutely mental considering when they were made, way way ahead of its time!

I'm convinced that Xtal is what you hear when you're in your last death throws -- the recap of your life flashing back through your eyes syncing beautifully to this emotionally crafted work.

This came out AGES ago. Some of it is almost 30 years old!!!! I remember at the time nobody had ever heard anything like it. The first two tracks are masterpieces of sound from the technology available to him at the time, On good speakers it filled the room in a whole new way, like nothing before. I can remember the first time I heard it like it was yesterday. It blew me away. A magical musical breakthrough. The ambient sound he created spawned the genre, Listen and learn! Some of it is a bit mental in the middle and not ambient but crazy. A sign of things to come. He went down that road after this first album and spawned another genre - psychedelic gabba grime! Much too challenging for me sadly. I prefer the blissful 10:10 - 10:20 background sounds that lift the soul.... aaaahhhh! Check out Chill Out by The KLF for the other seminal work in the ambient/chillout genre.

Life-changing album.

Bad news this album was taken out from spotify, app I use a lot to listen music that is not in every web, but thanks that i still can listen to this here.. Saludos desde Argentina!

peaking on lsd, taking two hours to roll one spliff, smoking it to bring you back up. circa '94.

This is so innovative. Surely Aphex Twin is one of the greatest electronica producers to have walked this earth

To think that most of this would have been in the 80s is a little creepy. so ahead of its time....

I played this on repeat for all of my friends on our high school graduation party night, just a few hours before the sunrise over a big field we were all lying in the middle of, in sleeping bags.

creepy forbidden archives unexplained mystery shocking documentary

Music is eternity timing the Illusion of man

I'm listening to Ageispolis and looking at the utterly chilled expression on my cat's face while she hears this, and I get a glimpse of the meaning of life. AFX is a genius!

Music creates mind spheres unknown to reality which connect with all possibilities

Recuerdo finales de los 80´s en un cassette...pasaba Hrs viajando y soñando escuchando a un Alien sin nombre/ni titulo...en mi visita a Londres lo redescubrí. Selected Ambient Works...!! el mejor Ambient jamás igualado/comparado...una Obra Maestra...!!

1:11:11 Gotta love that old CD skipp'n sound we were all so familiar with.

My favorite electronic album of all time. Nothing touches this. Pure sonic brilliance. God bless the day I randomly picked this out of the electronic music aisle based on a hunch in 1994. This album blows me away to this day.

Will never forget my first experience with this album.

Definition of Homework music.

Mr Aphex ... Le Mozart de l'electro ( c'est réducteur mais j'ai pas les mots) ... Merci.

20 yrs ago i was afraid he will become mainstream...i think i can relax now..puhh.. thx for my first eargasm in 1996

I love this album so much. It acts like a safe, beautiful place for me to hide inside whenever I play it.

Hey ben. Not sure if you still read theese comments anymore but. If you do. I'd just like to thank you for posting this on youtube. It is currently the single thing I have listened to the most on this planet. And will continue listening to. It's what makes my inspiration in pursuing the long journey of learning to make this kind of music. And i'd just like to say thanks, man. To you, aphex twin. And everyone listening. I hope you all got a lovely day, and will continue having good days.

Aphex Twin is the only artist who can make aggressive ambient music if that makes any sense. You HAD to be very talented or whatever to make this kind of music in "85 being only 13 or so. Kudos to Richard.

I don't really listen to techno, and I don't like any of Aphex Twin's other stuff, but this album is just beautiful. It feels like being alone at 2:00 am in the morning in the heart of a cold winter. I bet this goes great with ketamine.

Unbelievable. My own fault I haven't discovered them for myself for so many years, being enchanted by Vangelis, Jarre and later BT, Fluke and others for two decades or so

Like a Pink Floyd fan decided he was going to make electronic music. I can dig this.

I loved this record 20 years ago - and hearing it now it's still as good as when I heard it all those years ago - this is rare. I have never listened to this and found it boring... Some of the best electronic music I know of this is...The bass line at 22.43 is amazing...

23:42 always gives me goosebumps

nasa got a message from space today it said"send more aphex twim"!!!!!!!!!!

Xtal, Pulsewidth, Heliosphan, Ptolemy, Actium; the best!

I love Mozart.

I added this album to "watch later" some few months ago and didn't listen to it, waiting for the right time. I dare say, this album is well worth the wait.

Few music composers have affected me in such an emotional manner as Aphex Twin. Every beautiful symphony he's constructed exists within their own realm in my eyes. Richard's music releases a quizzical and philosophical state within me that few other artists of any medium has. I'm sure that when he combined the accumulation of random sounds for each of his best works, they evoked something within him that resides within us. The utter beauty and mystery of existing. It's a sensation that can't be expressed with words, but with sounds. Music. Although not all his works I like, he is a masterful composer of music and I have the utmost respect for him.

so futuristic sounding, the original A E S T H E T I C S album

really love IDM, glitch, melodic fusion and such, old projects and new once, today i really like listening to Lights of Aeon, Amon Tobin and ofc the one and only Rchard D. Aphex twins (not sure if its only me, but i cant listen to more then three four artists at a time).