Search - Aphex Twin :: Caustic Window:Compilation

Homemade Hardcore for Homosapiens

10/23/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! After promising this compilation for, I swear, decades, it's finally out. For the unitiated, Caustic Window is Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin aka AFX aka lots of other stuff, and this disc is a first-time-on-cd comp of some of his early 90's "braindance" recordings for his own Rephlex label. Then again, how many people who don't know this are going to be looking up Caustic Window releases at Amazon.com? Ahh, I'm proceeding anyway . .Whereas James' Aphex releases run the gamut of arty, 15 minute drones to brief, brain-scrambing cacaphony, Caustic Window is all about hardcore dance music. It's not complicated, so I keep thinking it should be boring hearing basically the same beat and samples for two to eight minutes a pop, but it isn't. Maybe it's because the beats aren't garden variety; rather they're punishing and relentless on the best tracks and distorted into something fresh on others.The best tracks? "The Garden of Linmiri" is my favorite. Its fake 'real' name for years was "Industro Garbage Beats," which I feel is more appropriate. Its beats just pound away at you methodically for five minutes, while a little squeaky effect drills away at your brain in the middle of the mix. Next is "Fantasia," which will drive your roomies nuts and might kill your cat. It's faster than "Linmiri," and its wildly gyrating synth is nothing short of psycho. "Joyrex J5" is the most mellow track here, and shows a little of James' ambient side.All in all an inventive, raw look at a genius' early efforts. If you like hardcore dance tracks, this will appeal."

Best Aphex Twin if you're a hardcore fan

Ben | VT | 03/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One word: Fantasia. It's what hardcore is all about. Put it on and turn it up as loud as it will go. Try not to kill anything or anybody while you're at it...I'd been looking for it for over a year...This cd is awesome, to say the least. Buy it NOW."

The other side of the sky

loteq | Regensburg | 06/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Caustic Window is Aphex Twin's hardcore techno aegis. As the title of this CD indicates, it's a compilation of EPs which had been released on Richard's own Rephlex label. Well, I don't think this album is as well-crafted and interesting as Richard's output under the Aphex Twin or AFX name. Many tracks are very aggressive, featuring banging percussion, 'caustic' sequencers and other acid techno ingredients. It sounds forced, much like 'hey, let's make a nasty, noisy track'. Richard's good musical sense is buried under this brutal noise. As expected, I find my favorites among the calmer pieces. "Cordialatron" (a bonus track of the European edition?) and "On the romance tip" are both highly melodious techno songs which match the best on "Selected..I". The 22-second "Pigeon Street" is very childish and funny. "Italic eyeball" and "Clayhill dub" lessen the industrial influence by playing around with dub rhythms. "CD Compilation" pales next to the extraordinarily high quality of Richard's best albums, but it's a worthwhile item for fans and completists."