On

On

Aphex Twin's <i>On</i> EP is clearly one of Richard James's most successful works, both artistically and chartwise (hitting the low 30s on the British charts--not bad for a rabid experimentalist). His first major release in the U.S., the weirdly club-friendly yet organic title track is composed of (in order of appearance) four pleasant, reverberating piano notes played in succession; a cascade of ascending and descending keyboard notes that quickly approximate a waterfall; the sound of actual water itself in form of a rainstorm; synth washes for ambient coloring; skittering sequencer rhythm notes; an antique Suicide-style beat box that sounds as if powered by steam; and a deliciously distorted, bass-heavy, repeated squeal noise that serves as the focal point of the entire piece. It's pretty neat, enough so that it's one of James's essential recordings. <i>--Mike McGonigal</i>