How to devalue a piece of plastic in 1 easy move
Up until last Monday, I had a piece of plastic on my shelves, 12" in diameter, that was worth something in the region of £150 - £200. Now I don't. No it hasn't been stolen, its all thanks to Warp Records.
The piece of plastic in question was a 12" EP by Aphex Twin called Hangable Autobulb, limited in number to 1000 pressings, this slice of quality and genre shifting electronica was released in 1995 and 1/1000th of it, was purchased by me.
It was a ground breaking record. Jungle was at the height of its powers, and Aphex, at the height of his, released a record. This and its follow up, the imaginatively titled Hangable Autobulb 2, were the first releases that marked Aphex's experimentation with the dynamics, speed and programming that had evolved through the UK jungle scene morphing it into something entirely unique, something entirely Aphex Twin.
So as I was saying, Warp, in their infinite wisdom (my favourite label you know - f*ckers never signed me...) decided to release both EP's on a single CD. Of course, I had to get it, subscribing at once to my own financial doom, both by splashing hard earned on something I already owned, and by justifying Warp's petty minded release schedule.
I love these tracks, not only are they evocative for me of bachelor days walking to work listening to the walkman, but of a time when electronica was electronica, not trying to up its worth by pretending to be psychedelia, or jazz or even (uurgh - its happening you know) folk music. They are what you would expect from Aphex too, in the days when an Aphex release was something to get very excited about, aside from the noted drum and percussion programming, which frankly, is still mentalist, the quirky samples and lovely Aphex melodies stand up to a decades worth of repeated listening. Notables being Laughable Butane Bob, a track which suits itself to driving up the A15 at 8am in the morning, and Children Talking, which features a child being questioned on his least favourite food, to which he replies 'Mashed Potatoes..' You don't get that sort of quality on CD-Cocking-UK.
I maybe £150 down, but I'm probably a little bit richer..... I expect.
The piece of plastic in question was a 12" EP by Aphex Twin called Hangable Autobulb, limited in number to 1000 pressings, this slice of quality and genre shifting electronica was released in 1995 and 1/1000th of it, was purchased by me.
It was a ground breaking record. Jungle was at the height of its powers, and Aphex, at the height of his, released a record. This and its follow up, the imaginatively titled Hangable Autobulb 2, were the first releases that marked Aphex's experimentation with the dynamics, speed and programming that had evolved through the UK jungle scene morphing it into something entirely unique, something entirely Aphex Twin.
So as I was saying, Warp, in their infinite wisdom (my favourite label you know - f*ckers never signed me...) decided to release both EP's on a single CD. Of course, I had to get it, subscribing at once to my own financial doom, both by splashing hard earned on something I already owned, and by justifying Warp's petty minded release schedule.
I love these tracks, not only are they evocative for me of bachelor days walking to work listening to the walkman, but of a time when electronica was electronica, not trying to up its worth by pretending to be psychedelia, or jazz or even (uurgh - its happening you know) folk music. They are what you would expect from Aphex too, in the days when an Aphex release was something to get very excited about, aside from the noted drum and percussion programming, which frankly, is still mentalist, the quirky samples and lovely Aphex melodies stand up to a decades worth of repeated listening. Notables being Laughable Butane Bob, a track which suits itself to driving up the A15 at 8am in the morning, and Children Talking, which features a child being questioned on his least favourite food, to which he replies 'Mashed Potatoes..' You don't get that sort of quality on CD-Cocking-UK.
I maybe £150 down, but I'm probably a little bit richer..... I expect.
posted by Bob at 7:49 pm
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