On October 22nd, 2001, electronic artist Richard D. James released Drukqs under the Aphex Twin moniker, the fifth studio album released under this name. It was the last Aphex Twin album to be released until just under two weeks ago when he released a brand new album, Syro.
Featuring tracks from the past several years, as well as a healthy dose of new material, the release of Syro stunned and delighted fans as well as critics, gaining near universal acclaim.
Now, this isn’t a review simply because I never got 100% into Aphex Twin’s previous albums, something that I’m now sorely regretting. Rather, these are my impressions after listening to the album several times.
What struck me the most about this album was the unbelievably vast array of tones and sounds. It’s an absolutely fascinating album from an aural perspective. There are tones that hearken back to the 80’s and 90’s while several sounds are incredibly modern, creating a unique mixture of past and present.
The next thing that stuck out to me was how much of a roller coaster it was on my emotions. From moments of pure beauty to glitched out creepiness, Syro is an opportunity for introspection and possibly even meditation. It drew me in hypnotically, each song a story in and of itself yet somehow relatable and identifiable. I found myself more often than not completely lost in the music, blissfully unaware of the world around me.
But perhaps the most wonderful aspect of this album is that I have listened to it multiple times and it’s still growing on me, revealing new sounds and melodies. Each new playthrough unveils something new, something that I missed out on with each previous listen. I can’t really explain it but I’m drawn to this album time and time again. It’s almost like some strange addiction and I can’t get enough of it.
If you haven’t guessed from this article, I’m kinda in love with Syro. I 100% recommend picking it up as quickly as you possibly can. It’s the kind of album that stays with you and will end up being something you return to year after year.
