Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Selected Ambient Works Volume II (often abbreviated SAW2 ) is the second studio album by Aphex Twin and is the successor of the album Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992). The 1994 released album took three weeks # 11 in the UK album charts.
Survey
Volume II differs significantly to its predecessor SAW85 -92, that are dealing with long textual ambient compositions, if at all, be backed only with minimal beats and vocal samples. It is thus similar to the ambient works of Brian Eno. Richard D. James described the album as one would " be in a power distribution on Acid". and also said that the sounds on the record of his lucid dreams were inspired and that he would have tried to create new after waking up and record it. He was just as Synästhethiker what have also contributed to this album.
Artwork
The album consists of 25 individual pieces, all of which are untitled except for Blue Calx. The accompanying booklet to the album shows a series of images that represent the title of each piece and a blue emblem for the title Blue Calx. The abstract figures contain color pie charts that indicate which pieces belong to which vinyl side, and the approximate length of the title. ( For example, the first vinyl side is shown here as mustard yellow. ) Officially the title were named simply by their numbers, but fans have renamed the compositions - based on the images to the tracks ( as was track 3 " Rhubarb " (Eng. rhubarb) called ). On the U.S. edition of the album more of the pictures have been changed; either they were shown the blurrier or replaced by others. In track 19 just an empty square left over. Therefore, the track names for these pieces are sometimes modified.
Due to the limited playing time of an audio CD track 19 was removed from the CD version. This has become standard, even for online versions of the album. This song was released on a compilation album by Astralwerks - the title reads simply # 19 On the original U.S. version is also missing Track 4 from the first disc, the vinyl edition came in two versions on the market: A normal black vinyl pressing with color design of INSERTS as well as a limited edition in brown colored vinyl and with monochrome photos.
Reception
The critics from Allmusic and Rolling Stone gave the album 4 out of 5 points, the spin magazine awarded 8 out of 10. The professional music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B-.
Chart positions
The album took three weeks, number 11 in the UK album charts.
Remixes
- Track 2 was later released on the remix album 26 Mixes for Cash (2003), titled SAW2 CD1 TRK2 (Original Mix). The piece was actually recorded for Aphex Twins Peel Session from 1995.
- Track 7 was remixed with the LFO song Simon from Sidney Pram. This was 3 for the compilation album Warp 10: Remixes. Four Tet remixed for this album and the first track of the album, also known as the Cliffs.
- Cover versions of Blue Calx and Track 1 played on acoustic instruments from the classical ensemble Alarm Will Sound, appeared in 2005 on their album Acoustica.
Title list
CD 1, vinyl and MC pages 1-3
Duration: 79:32 (UK CD, LP and MC), 74:58 ( U.S. CD)
2 CD, vinyl and MC- pages 4-6
Duration: 77:00 (CD) 87:08 (LP, MC)