Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works Volume II

What’s to be said that hasn’t already been said about this album. A two and a half hour behemoth that takes you deep into your own psyche, kicking around like fragments of dreams you’re struggling to piece together the moment you wake up. Every note, every rotation of the record feels ancient, like some artifact that was recently unearthed and the vibrations contained within have just begun to shed their rust. It is the type of music that feels like it was always here, and always will be.

Needless to say, everyone deserves to have some pressing of this classic in their collection, but where to start? Obviously, after years of radio silence and one awful reissue (from 2012) the album was finally given the deluxe treatment last year, meaning you can get an incredible sounding new pressing of this for no more that 50 dollars. At long last!

So then what in gods name attracted me here, to an original, where many people would be lucky just to lay their eyes upon one let alone sell a kidney to get it? And what about the sound quality, just about everyone agrees that’s these records were pressed terribly, with the brown version being even worse. Well, when confronted with the opportunity to get one of these for half of its current asking price (a steal!) I simply had to jump on it and see for myself just what the issue is with these first pressings. My copy matches this perfectly, being the black version, and after a long sit down with the record I am very happy to report it sounds phenomenal. Indeed, the record is chock full of surface noise, as a result of small imperfections you can see all over the wax when held to the light. I think the rumor is right, these just weren’t pressed well. Despite that, the noise is so low level on my copy, that I found it hardly bothered me at all. The mastering sounds so damn good when turned up that at a point I found the occasional crackle to blend into the waves of ambient, becoming just another artifact of its many years of service to music lovers like myself. All in all, I am more than happy with this pressing and I’d imagine it’s very much luck of the draw whether or not you’re going to get a good copy. As for me, this is now my most prized possession, one I will be spinning for many many years to come…

Not sure what the chatter below about the tapes (DATs?) being lost is about. RDJ said he found them and was surprised to even find track 19 "stone in focus". Anyway, I can't believe people are still buying this. It's not just the pressing quality that's bad - I own the black pressing, which is supposed to be better than the brown pressing, but it's still not great. It's just noisy. But, that is not the real problem. The mastering is terrible. It's cut quite low and is really soft. Volume won't help, especially with the noisy vinyl. The CD is much more dynamic/transparent. I am sure the new vinyl cut will sound great and I have pre-ordered it. But it also has to be said that CD is probably the best format for this album as it feels like it should be played as one continuous piece without the interruption of having to flip sides.

First time hearing this.I'm an ambient musician and fan of ambient music.Started out appreciating Music for Airports/ eno ..it helped me sleep during hangovers.On Land/ eno is one of my favorite ambient releases.Fripp's soundscapes are classic as well as Seefeel & Boards Of Canada.This release? I can see how it can have a home in the hearts of those that discovered it early...and the used prices? Yea..a reissue is welcome! The music? Get a recorder..a few synths/ samplers and make YOUR OWN ambient.This release is a great tutorial for showing how to use simplicity and repetition.note: I DID order the LP set..but w music like this I generally go Japan CD.

I have a visually mint copy of this, not a single scratch, but crackles, pops and unexplained weird noises are an issue. Can any other owners tell me if this is a problem with theirs, no matter the condition? I fear Warp's quality control at the time is to blame.

It is IMHO outright ridiculous this has not been repressed on vinyl with its full tracklist (as it was intended to be heard) since March 1994. So many people love the hell out of this album and are unable to experience it unless they pay 700 to 1000€ to some fishy resellers.
Both Warp Records and Aphex should be ashamed of themselves indirectly promoting such schemes due to their sheer inactivity.
Sorry to say that "the master tapes were allegedly destroyed" does not count as an argument for me here. As other s have stated already: Even a Digital to Analog transfer would be better than further maintaining this situation. This is not uncommon these days either and there are countless examples how it can be done retaining quality.
2024 is my last hope they will come up with something. If they won't, for me this would be the nail in the coffin considering fan service.

its crazy how many people are actual doomers when it comes to the chances of this being repressed - many people mention "oh the masters are destroyed/lost! itd probably be sourced from a CD!" when the reality is the RDJ album repress was sourced from a cd and is well loved... nothings completely off the table imo. i dont think itll come but some of yall act like theres 0 chance of a repress ever

The depth and clarity of sound here is hugely better than the CD/digital versions, and less noisy/poppy than the brown one. Even a remastered digital version of this album would be better than nothing.

grabbed a copy in boston for $120. absolute steal in my opinion, though i paid the price for the background noise. i would resell it for much more though…

Safe to say that sales of this for £60 are most likely scams

Would Warp Records start considering a proper vinyl repress? For fuck's sake!