Analord
Analord is a series of eleven 12" vinyl records released in 2005 by UK-based electronic music artist Richard D. James, primarily under the alias AFX. The series marked James's return to primarily analogue equipment following his computer-oriented programming work in the late 1990s. After their release, James "distilled" the 3½ hour, 42-track series into the 10-track compilation album Chosen Lords (2006), effectively his first full-length release since the 2001 album Drukqs.[6]
Analord | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
EP series by | ||||
Released | December 2004–July 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2003–2005 | |||
Genre | Acid techno[1] | |||
Length | 11 EPs
| |||
Label | Rephlex ANALORD01 – ANALORD11 | |||
Producer | Richard D. James | |||
Richard D. James chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | Analord 1: (5.6/10)[2] |
Pitchfork | Analord 2: (6.0/10)[2] |
Pitchfork | Analord 3: (7.5/10)[3] |
Pitchfork | Analord 4: (7.0/10)[3] |
Pitchfork | Analord 5: (5.8/10)[3] |
Pitchfork | Analord 6: (6.3/10)[4] |
Pitchfork | Analord 7: (6.2/10)[4] |
Pitchfork | Analord 8: (6.7/10)[4] |
Pitchfork | Analord 9: (6.8/10)[5] |
Pitchfork | Analord 10: (7.6/10)[5] |
Pitchfork | Analord 11: (6.6/10)[5] |
Pitchfork | Series Average: (6.5/10)[2][3][4][5] |
On 24 December 2009, the Rephlex Records website began posting unreleased/bonus tracks for the Analord series in MP3 and WAV digital formats. In all, 21 bonus tracks were added to the series, totalling 62 tracks for a runtime of 4 hours and 36 minutes.[7]
History
The first installment, Analord 10, went on sale through the Rephlex Records website on 15 December 2004, and was packaged in a faux-leather binder with sleeves for housing the rest of the series. It was later re-released as a picture disc. Both pressings of Analord 10 were marketed under James' primary alias Aphex Twin, although other Analord recordings were released under the AFX pseudonym.[8][9]
A condensed, album-length version of the series, Chosen Lords was released in 2006.
Musical equipment used
James has programmed a variety of analogue equipment throughout his career. Instruments on Analord include drum machines such as the Roland TR-606, TR-808, and TR-909; sequencers such as the Roland MC-4; and various synthesizers and polysynths, including the Roland SH-101 and Roland TB-303, a Synton Fenix Modular
Etymology
The name refers to the analogue and digital electronic music equipment James used to perform much of Analord, as well as being a double entendre. Since James has a penchant for anagrams, it is noteworthy that "Analord" is an anagram for "A Roland", perhaps referencing a well-known manufacturer of analogue synthesizers. It has also been speculated that the term "Analord" is a portmanteau of the words analogue and lord, referring to Richard James' previous analogue programming, and the talent and recognition he has in his industry. "Analord" is also the title of a Luke Vibert track from Lover's Acid on Planet Mu.
Allusions
- Tracks on Analord 8, Analord 9, and Analord 11 are named after computer viruses and other malicious software, allegedly to prevent or discourage file sharing.
- The images on both sides of Analord 11 feature the Michael Faraday Memorial in Elephant and Castle, London (which is near the disused bank Richard D. James owns).
- Both sides of Analord 1 feature the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer as the label art.
- Side B of "Analord 04" has an Halibut's eye as the label art, connecting with the track "Halibut Acid".
Track listing
Analord 1
Released 24 January 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Steppingfilter 101" | 4:45 |
2. | "Canticle Drawl" | 1:45 |
3. | "MC-4 Acid" | 3:47 |
4. | "Bubble 'n' Squeek 2" (Untitled until December 2009 reissue) | 1:31 |
5. | "Where's Your Girlfriend?" | 5:06 |
6. | "Grumpy Acid" | 3:21 |
7. | "Analord 158b" | 1:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
8. | "Canticle Drawl" (Alternate Version) | 0:36 |
9. | "Where's Your Girlfriend" (Another Version) | 3:36 |
Analord 2
Released 24 January 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Phonatacid" | 9:47 |
2. | "Laricheard" | 2:15 |
3. | "Pissed Up in SE1" | 5:14 |
4. | "Bwoon Dub" | 5:56 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Carnival Acid" | 3:32 |
Analord 3
Released 21 February 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boxing Day" | 6:36 |
2. | "Midievil Rave 1" | 2:44 |
3. | "Klopjob" | 5:24 |
4. | "Midievil Rave 2" | 4:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Stabbij" | 4:21 |
Analord 4
Released 21 February 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Crying in Your Face" | 4:23 |
2. | "Home Made Polysynth" | 4:07 |
3. | "Halibut Acid" | 6:07 |
4. | "Breath March" | 3:46 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Flutternozzle" | 6:28 |
6. | "In the Maze Park" | 1:31 |
7. | "Halibut Acid" (Original Mix) | 4:35 |
Analord 5
Released 14 March 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Reunion 2" | 5:10 |
2. | "Cilonen" | 5:34 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
3. | "Gong Acid" | 3:05 |
4. | "Reunion 2" (Alternative Version) | 6:23 |
Analord 6
Released 11 April 2005.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Batine Acid" | 5:26 | |
2. | "Snivel Chew" | 4:02 | |
3. | "I'm Self Employed" | 4:26 | |
4. | "2 Analogue Talks" (Split into two tracks on December 2009 reissue)
| 1:45
| |
5. | "Analoggins" | Captain Voafose and Smojphace | 7:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "Bodmin 1" | 4:36 |
7. | "Bodmin 2" | 4:17 |
8. | "Bodmin 3" | 5:26 |
Analord 7
Released 25 April 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Lisbon Acid" | 8:29 |
2. | "Pitcard" | 6:18 |
3. | "AFX Acid 04" | 5:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
4. | "Wabby Acid" | 3:33 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "lisbon acid unedited original live version" | 8:32 |
Analord 8
Released 9 May 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "PWSteal.Ldpinch.D" | 3:44 |
2. | "Backdoor.Berbew.Q" | 4:57 |
3. | "W32.Deadcode.A" | 6:18 |
4. | "Backdoor.Spybooter.A" | 5:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Backdoor.Berbew.Q" (Tollwedgechord Mix) | 4:59 |
Analord 9
Released 13 June 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "PWSteal.Bancos.Q" | 4:50 |
2. | "Trojan.KILLAV.E" | 3:03 |
3. | "W32.Aphex@mm" | 3:52 |
4. | "Backdoor.Netshadow" | 4:49 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Liptons B Acid" | 5:47 |
Analord 10
Released 15 December 2004, Re-released as a picture disc on 11 July 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Fenix Funk 5" | 4:58 |
2. | "Xmd 5a" | 7:55 |
Analord 11
Released 13 June 2005.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "W32.Mydoom.AU@mm" | 8:47 |
2. | "VBS.Redlof.B" | 4:39 |
3. | "Backdoor.Ranky.S" (Split into two tracks on December 2009 reissue
| 6:00
|
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
4. | "Not Disturbing Mammoth 1" (Mono) | 2:05 |
5. | "Not Disturbing Mammoth 2" (Mono) | 2:00 |
6. | "Love 7" | 4:45 |
7. | "3 Notes Con" | 4:54 |
8. | "VBS.Redlof.B" (Bass Version) | 3:28 |
* Released on 24 December 2009, only available through download.
References
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/r825965
- "AFX: Analord 1 / Analord 2 Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchforkmedia.com.
- "AFX: Analord 3 / 4 / 5 Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchforkmedia.com.
- "AFX: Analord 6 / 7 / 8 Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchforkmedia.com.
- "AFX: Analord 9 / 10 / 11 Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchforkmedia.com.
- Fallon, Patric. "Aphex Twin Albums From Best to Worst". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- Analord, www.discogs.com, Retrieved 2015-07-11
- Aphex Twin Interview, www.clashmusic.com, Retrieved 2015-07-11
- A beginner's guide to the many sounds of Aphex Twin, www.avclub.com, Retrieved 2015-07-11
External links
- Rephlex Analord webpage & Rephlex Analord 10 webpage
- Analord 01 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 02 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 03 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 04 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 05 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 06 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 07 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 08 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 09 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 10 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Analord 11 at MusicBrainz (list of releases)