this music is great for eating bamboo

The guy was 13 when he started producing the music for this album. Imagine that: a middle-schooler likely invented IDM.

Now I know where DIE ANTWOORD​ got their riff for the 'Ugly Boy'. 18:10

Years ago, back in 1989 in fact, a guy started work in the company I worked for in north london. I can't remember his name it being so long ago but I remember he came from Hinckley in Leicester. I remember he used to talk highly of Aphex twin, This Mortal Coil and 4AD records who I had never heard of before. he had a friend who had a sound system of very high quality back then and they used to listen to Aphex twin etc whilst getting stoned. I was more into Hip hop at the time and wasn't that clued up about ambient, that came a year or two later. I introduced him to NWA and he loved that, anyway I digress, He became a good friend over that summer and we partied at the town & country club in Kentish Town (Wendy May's locomotion) but i never listened to any of the music he spoke so highly of. Fast forward 26 years and I'm listening to this and it's blown me away. Wow i wish i got into Aphex Twin back in the late 80's/early 90's when he first spoke about them. Time flies fast and the years roll by so very quickly. I turned 50 two months ago. I have a happy marriage, I have a good career. What have i learnt over the years? It's important to unplug via what ever method is your choice/poison. Don't ever listen to negativity, keep pushing forward. Love your family and your friends, no one else is that important. I wish I could meet my old friend from hinckley back in 89.

The first time I listened to Xtal was yesterday and I liked it but I didn't know why everyone thought it was so good. Today I told my history teacher that my classmate was being bullied, I asked him to speak in private at break and we went into to another room and I told him what was going on and I broke down because I was bullied for a long time time before and it really resonated with me because I thought in my head that I was being the hero that I wished was there for me. I hope you never feel the helplessness of crying in front of your history teacher, but my tears then could have prevented thousands more tears for my classmate. It was only then as i was writing in my diary 5 minutes ago about this, (I want to record all my experiences for when I'm older, I'm 15) when I noticed myself humming Xtal in my head. Now I cherish this song

perfect for a hungover rainy sunday

3 Million views. He's officially completely mainstream.

Xtal is the sound the Sun makes when it rises above the Horizon..

I'd be interested to know which of these tracks was actually from 1985

Xtal might be the most perfect piece of electronic music ever produced.

Hi Ben! I'm Beatrice. Nice to meet you.

Selected Ambient Works 2085-2092

time is an illusion.

I first came across Selected Ambient Works when rooting through a box of random tapes I found under the bed in my first student houseshare. It was a grim October and I was living in a house on the cliffs of Rottingdean near Brighton, miles from campus and my friends, and I was feeling rather lonely. When I played this album, it was like my mind was being hugged and bought a pint. From the opening synths and gentle boom of Xtal, Ambient Works is a cosy duvet on a bleak February morning, a Mars Bar after swimming, a snow-covered hill on a sunny day - full of soothing melodies and quiet spaces. Now, 13 years later, I still put it on when I can't sleep, or when I feel cold or sad, and it greets me like an old friend. I played the tape til it broke and had to buy the CD. I was very much a rock fan when I came across this album, but it introduced me to a side of electronica I hadn't previously been aware of - the after-party, the come down, the morning after, the walk in the park with your headphones on. Apparently it was massively influential and I suppose that is one reason for picking up this piece of history. But a far greater reason is the timeless beauty of the music. Buy it, love it forever.

The fact that these tunes were produced while Thatcher was still prime minister blows my fucking mind.

Listening to this while studying for a macroeconomics exam.

I'm just discovering Aphex Twin. Really rather splendid

Sounds like Brian Eno broke into Krafwerk's laboratory, stole some old rusty tubes and circuits, flew behind the moon for 3 months, compressed the years of 1978-1989 into fuzzy purple and silver acid & DMT capsules, fused it with his own DNA and came back to earth with a half-frozen 2" tape reel. cool stuff man

You know an album is good when you're listening to it and you forget that you're sober.

This album helped me calm down for tests all the time, passed my finals thanks to this one.

Oh my god the tune of Xtal had been the aural screensaver in my brain for about 6 months and I just couldn't remember which artist, which album, which tune. I put a BoC playlist on as I was working and it must've run out and just continued to this. The joy and relief I'm experiencing right now is immense.

Xtal is still one of my favourite tracks - a masterpiece of beauty, an amazing melody mixed with bliss sonorities, god

LISTENING TO THIS WHILE LOOKING FOR JOBS FOR JSA AT 5AM

Ptolemy has to be his catchiest tune. That bassline.

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

Best Ambient Album ever created IMO. Its not IDM but Ambient Techno.

Kangaroos are the T-Rex version of deer

xtal has more bass than most r/b bangers. My sub eats this song

I usually suffer anxiety attacks on the train home, social situations Rev. Thought I'd try listening to something 'ambient' and came across this. Didn't realise how much I like aphex twin. Proper chilled out all the home. Thanks for putting this on UKposts. You helped someone today. 😋

first two tracks are among the best things made on this planet

The most important thing to remember is all of this album is a heartfelt emotional expression through music. It is not a way to make money. It is not an attempt to have a 'Hit' record. It is not an attempt at becoming famous. It is simply someone making music because that is what they are driven to do. I had a copy which I made on tape and took it with me on a solo adventure and it was always a comfort to listen to, as well as a novelty for others I met.

Beginning of Xtal makes me cry. Simple as that.

I cannot begin to tell how much this album means to me. I don't care what Mr James has done since, this is as important as anything by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk or Joy Division when it comes to innovation and creativity. This album kept me warm when the world was dark and cold.

Friday nights in 92/92, getting the 18.36 Thameslink from Farringdon to Leatherhead with this on my Walkman. Beautiful.

The one that goes beep beep boop boop?

Clicking through random albums in the recommended section, this comes up an you're like WHOAA

I read somewhere that the fourth track was actually co-composed with Bach when they studied supermassive cluster formations together with Jimi Hendrix in the Brookins Institute in the early '50s for CIA.

i keep coming back to AFX when winter falls

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 Selected Ambient Works 85-forever

I listened to this genre of music from when I was very young. There is something otherworldly about this genre that cannot be found in today's electronic music. This is one of Aphex Twin's best albums. It is something Yuri Alekseyevich should have listened to when he was in the cosmos)

Apex Twin and calculus can change your life.

i come back to this album periodically whenever i need "spiritual support"

UKposts loading circle fits perfectly with the vinyl holes '-'

Richard D. James is an innovator of electronic music. He's already a legend I say.

That last track's glitches only confirm that AFX was ahead of his time.

NO ADS!? Amazing.

17:49 Die Antwoord stole it lol

this reminds me of sitting on the bus playin this in my walkman back in 93... long bus ride home coming back from raves... part of me forever... makes me wanna cry then takes me to xstacy

I had admittedly never heard this album before and I'm really liking it. A few days ago I heard for the first time the song "Ugly Boy" by Die Antwoord, and I loved it. Then I'm listening to this album for the first time on the same day, and suddenly at 18:16 it's like, "What!!? Why is Ugly Boy playing?" Die Antwoord sampled from Aphex Twin, but I had no idea of this. It was a strange coincidence to hear them both (original tune and re-dux track) on the same day for the first time.

I´ve been listening to this album more than 20 years!!!!! and still so fresh!!!! I never get tired of hearing it....

If this was released this week nobody would ever realise as it's still very much current and fresh sounding till this day....Timeless!

absolutely mental considering when they were made, way way ahead of its time!

This is a timeless masterpiece of musical innovation

2010, Barcelona Razzmatazz club is packed - crowd including myself literally started chanting the melody of heliosphan when Richard started playing it.. The chills man. Best gig I ever been at. May the cosmos bless that man

nasa got a message from space today it said"send more aphex twim"!!!!!!!!!!

To think that most of this would have been in the 80s is a little creepy. so ahead of its time....

Heliosphan activates the creative mode of my brain on ultra settings

creepy forbidden archives unexplained mystery shocking documentary

Masterpiece

I could listen to that 1st song on repeat for hours flying my UFO

Doing a relisten of all his albums to get hyped to see Aphex in Houston this december. Can't wait!

Music is eternity timing the Illusion of man

Studying fungi for Biology right now. It's strangely fitting...

omg i don't think i've ever heard this so clearly and just perfect. thanks!

Aphex Twin is the only artist who can make aggressive ambient music if that makes any sense. You HAD to be very talented or whatever to make this kind of music in "85 being only 13 or so. Kudos to Richard.

It's plausible sound's warmth gives these tunes a very delightful, envigorating even (if I can say as much about ambient!) taste. Meesa like it.

I don't want to advertise myself, I just want to tell this I hope someone cares at least a bit. I just want to get this off my chest. I played with the idea of becoming a musician, sort of like a electronic music producer, for quite a while now. I would love to make beats. I'm currently 18 years old and I love music with all my heart, I can listen to it 24/7, music was always like a friend of mine in the darkest of moments when there was nobody to rely on, you don't have to explain your feelings, nor to get sympathy and try to get understood by anybody, you just put it on and it instantly speaks to you. You just feel it. I don't know if I would even be here now if music didn't help me to move on in life. But I don't want to preach so... now the problem is... I think my dream seems pretty foolish.. at least to me, the chances of it going wrong are so high, that people would even care about it are pretty low, there are already a ton of producers out there who are incredibly talented, and to make a decent living out of it is even more unlikely. My heart tells me yes, but my brain tells me otherwise and not to be caught up in such dreams. I don't even have a sampler, keyboards, MPC or anything right now. I starded recently messing with Fruity Loops, i know it's not the best but it's a decent start, and I noticed I have quite a good ear and talent for harmonies, melodies, structure, tempo ect. for a beginner... I wouldn't know which direction my music would take but I love IDM, Ambient and hip hop instrumentals and artists like Aphex Twin, Burial, Nicolas Jaar, Flying Lotus (the list is endless). It will probably be also sample-based, but I would definetly try to progress and make every single time something new and fresh, that's just how I like it. Challenging. But for right now my dream remains only a dream, however, I also don't want to be full of regrets when it's too late, I'm so conflicted and undecisive on what to do. If it works out I would finally be able to start all over again, far away and be happy, connecting with people with the art I created. Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope I could reach out to someone.

It can't get any better than Ageispolis, it has it all. Bass, Ambient, and Up-Tempo all at the same time because Aphex is a freaking genius.

Honestly this is one of the best records of all time

This album is definitely exceptional. Very ambient and minimalistic but at the same time full of warmth and energy .How can it be so beautiful, melancholic, positive and electric at the same time? I love it, specially Heliosphan

Like a Pink Floyd fan decided he was going to make electronic music. I can dig this.

I played this on repeat for all of my friends on our high school graduation party night, just a few hours before the sunrise over a big field we were all lying in the middle of, in sleeping bags.

This is a masterpiece its no wonder why aphex twin is respected.

Thank you Benjamin!

14:01 is neat

Definition of Homework music.

I don't really listen to techno, and I don't like any of Aphex Twin's other stuff, but this album is just beautiful. It feels like being alone at 2:00 am in the morning in the heart of a cold winter. I bet this goes great with ketamine.

Xtal, Pulsewidth, Heliosphan, Ptolemy, Actium; the best!

Perfection.

Best selection that i've heard so far I think, absolutely sublime! Thanks ben!

peaking on lsd, taking two hours to roll one spliff, smoking it to bring you back up. circa '94.

I'm convinced that Xtal is what you hear when you're in your last death throws -- the recap of your life flashing back through your eyes syncing beautifully to this emotionally crafted work.

great old skool tracks..

I love this album so much. It acts like a safe, beautiful place for me to hide inside whenever I play it.

Unbelievable. My own fault I haven't discovered them for myself for so many years, being enchanted by Vangelis, Jarre and later BT, Fluke and others for two decades or so

so futuristic sounding, the original A E S T H E T I C S album

Thanks for the upload Ben mate!

Life-changing album.

This is so innovative. Surely Aphex Twin is one of the greatest electronica producers to have walked this earth

wow, was obsessed with this album in school, haven't heard it in a long time, thanks uploader!

Ben, you're awesome.

This is really good, I can see why this album got so much praise. Listening to this, I bet how much it influenced electronic music in videogames.

Outstanding 1994 brings it back

feel like calling my drug dealer whenever Ageispolis get's on

A masterpiece in tone, texture and transcendence.

Will never forget my first experience with this album.

I'm listening to Ageispolis and looking at the utterly chilled expression on my cat's face while she hears this, and I get a glimpse of the meaning of life. AFX is a genius!

Ah yes. Take me there. Again.

I just can't help thinking about half life when I hear this😂

My favorite electronic album of all time. Nothing touches this. Pure sonic brilliance. God bless the day I randomly picked this out of the electronic music aisle based on a hunch in 1994. This album blows me away to this day.