Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II has maintained its status as one of the landmark albums of electronic music 30 years after its initial release. Finally reissued to celebrate this milestone, this expanded 4xLP edition contains the full album tracklist on vinyl for the first time alongside 2 previously unreleased bonus tracks. Original Lab review:
Picking up where left off, it appears that this album was composed over a much shorter period of time. There is more cohesion between the individual tracks and the record's sequencing leads to a grander statement compared to its predecessor. Although it may have confounded those fans looking for the intense gabber workouts and techno explorations that had made his mark with, SAW Volume II follows in the path set out by early electronic and ambient pioneers like Brian Eno, Erik Satie, Steve Reich, and Terry Riley with tremendous success. The pieces are at once eerie and soothing, balancing subtle dissonance with mournful drones. There's a dark and creepy underbelly to the whole affair. And while all that may sound dark and brooding, there is an uplifting quality to the work. The album was released without any track names, save for "Blue Calx," just a color coded chart for each side with an associated picture on the sleeve. Over the years fan impetus led to each track being given a name based on the image representing it (i.e. "Rhubarb" for track 3).SAW Volume II is one of the highlights of Richard D. James' prolific career and a must for any fan of ambient electronic music. Highly recommended.
- 30th anniversary expanded edition includes full album tracklist plus 2 previously-unreleased bonus tracks
- 4xLP black vinyl pressing
- deluxe foil-blocked packaging
- includes foldout poster sticker sheet
- original release year: 1994
- music label: Warp Records 2024
