From: kellyd@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (David Kelly)
Newsgroups: alt.rave
Subject: Review:  Polygon Window
Date: 26 Jan 93 07:17:37 GMT
Organization: Cybernet BBS, Boca Raton, Florida

Took me a week or so to work this review together as it seems every time 
I started listening to it my body became inert and all I could do was 
chant, 'The llama deftily assembles a burrito.'

POLYGON WINDOW - SURFING ON SINE WAVES - WARP LP7

1   5.24   Polygon Window
2   4.36   Audax Powder
3   5.34   Quoth
4   7.01   If It Really Is Me
5   4.04   Supremacy II
6   5.17   UT1 - dot
7   6.24
8   6.00   Quixote
9   4.42   Quino-Phec

The Aphex Twin is back and has seemingly been quite prolific as of late 
with the Universal Indicators out and also this new one on Warp..  Under 
the name 'Polygon Window' likely because 'The Aphex Twin' is probably 
licensed to R&S, this full-length release is the second in Warp's series 
of 'Artificial Intelligence' releases..

'Polygon Window' starts it off with a mesmerizing, generously hi-hatted 
bounder that was on the AI1 comp on Warp under the artist name, The
Diceman..  Develops nicely into a melodic trance-oriented journey that is 
at times reserved yet intense..

'Audax Powder' is a rather strange (even for T.A.T.) one that uses a wide 
range of tempo changes and an almost miami bass style beat..  The tempo 
changes used near the end come accross as 'different' but not 'gimmicky' 
as many tempo changes are prone to do..

'Quoth' is a rather fast, industrialish track with a pounding 4/4 kick 
and metallic rim-shot style snare..  This one brings back memories of the 
last three songs on Ministry's 'Twitch'..  While outside my realm of 
interest, it works, but I might've liked a little more diversity in it..

'If It Really Is Me' is supurb..  A thought-invoking emotional trip with 
what sounds like real piano..  An organish sound overlays the pianos and 
at 7.01 it doesn't become boring or repetitive..

'Supremacy II' is once again the harder side of Richard James..  I can't 
really seem to develop an opinion on this one, which likely means I don't 
like it a whole lot..  The kick is distorted and 4/4, but I think it is a 
little _too_ distorted for my tastes..  The tempo is quite fast but there 
is an interesting beatless break or two with an off-the-wall choice of 
sample..  I'll let you discover the sample on your own though..

'UT1 - dot' is next..  UT1 - dot is listed as 5.17 and a second track 
tags along at the end listed as 6.24..  Both songs are different and 
non-related so my impression is that maybe UT1 is the first section and 
dot is the second..  The first part is typical Aphex Twin but this one 
doesn't catch my fancy as much..  A little too repetitive I think..  
While good, it isn't 'great'..  The second part is extreme 303..  Once 
again repetitive and with a strange soundscape layered in the back of the 
mix..  While deeply trancy and likable it also doesn't seem to measure up 
with a lot of the other Aphex Twin stuff I come to expect..

On the other hand 'Quixote' is fabulous and possibly the best track of 
all..  Once again a distorted kick but the synth sounds are mysterious 
and, at once, hypnotic..  Again, we have the soundscape in the back of 
the mix, but a little more predominant here, until it actually outweighs 
the original keyboards..  This track is worth at least half the purchase 
price alone, maybe more..

'Quino-phec' closes it off with a rather beatless track..  Not really 
much to say about this one..  I think I would've liked it a bit more if 
there were a bit more to it..


Overall, this is something that anyone who has any interest in The Aphex 
Twin should have NOW..


-----
just keep movin.  just keep groovin.

kellyd@cybernet.cse.fau.edu
Newsgroups: alt.rave