Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85–92
Richard D. James’ first record as Aphex Twin has been hailed as “the birthplace and the benchmark of modern electronic music” (Warp). An odyssey of dreamy techno, SAW is the perfect soundtrack to a spell of late-night studying.
Sample track: “Ageispolis”
Australia’s best-kept secret is The Necks, a prolific jazz trio. Their 1989 album Sex is a wonderfully hypnotic piece, which sees the drums and double-bass provide a strong musical foundation for the cascades of piano.
Sample track: It’s all one track, homie.
Devin Townsend took a break from extreme metal with his recent project, Casualties of Cool. Described as “haunted Johnny Cash songs” and “late night music”, Casualties of Cool sees Townsend deliver an album of gorgeous country and deep-space ambience. The vocals of Ché Aimee Dorval are otherworldly.
Sample track: “Moon”
Nicolas Jaar: Space Is Only Noise
Nicolas Jaar’s Space Is Only Noise feels like a diary, full of pensive lyrics and musical ideas that have been scribbled down. Most songs feature scatterings of piano, electronica and perhaps a melancholic vocal. The resulting album is fragmented and deeply personal.
Sample track: “Colomb”
The debut album from Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a post-rock masterpiece. An album of sparse, post-apocalyptic beauty, F# A# Infinity will provide a deliciously dark soundtrack to your revision.
Sample track: “The Dead Flag Blues”
Though the Scottish duo’s least remarkable effort, The Campfire Headphase is probably Boards of Canada’s prettiest album. Soft-focus synthesizers and break-of-dawn acoustics swim together in a lush aquarium of sound.
Sample track: “Dayvan Cowboy”
