Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Hangable Auto Bulb

 
Album Review: Hangable Auto Bulb

  • Artist: AFX
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: November 01, 2005
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Electronica

Review

Four months after Warp released the 11th Analord volume, the label combined the two Hangable Auto Bulb singles from 1995 and issued the result as this convenient disc, a way to signify the tenth anniversary of the original vinyl releases. A lot of IDM analysts point to these tracks as drill'n'bass at its most innovative and best, and it would be difficult to devise a convincing opposing argument, unless it's possible to make early Squarepusher releases seem as if they're untethered and elaborate for more than the sake of being untethered and elaborate. "Hangable Auto Bulb" itself is the central track, initially a thrillingly unpredictable labyrinth of time-stretched sounds, skidding drum patterns, firing ride cymbals, and ambient chords that would be effective on their own. After that first braced listen, it reveals the kind of complex arrangement of sounds that demonstrates how Richard D. James wasn't splattering his components willy-nilly. If that doesn't get the point across, "Laughable Butane Bob" will, as it magnifies its parent track in most ways, from the further-developed melody to the crisper percussion rushes. James would apply the root ideas explored here to the more sinister and humorous Come to Daddy, but this is an undeniably pivotal part of the man's discography. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Children Talking AFX (5:22)
Hangable Auto Bulb AFX (6:52)
Laughable Butane Bob AFX (3:02)
Bit AFX (:11)
Custodian Discout AFX (4:30)
Wabby Legs AFX (5:35)
Every Day AFX (5:25)
Arched Maid Via RDJ AFX (3:50)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: Hangable Auto Bulb
Top
Hangable Auto Bulb

CD release cover
EP by AFX
Released EP1: October 16, 1995 (1995-10-16)
EP2: December 11, 1995 (1995-12-11)
Recorded August-October 1995
Genre Drum and bass
Length EP1: 25:05
EP2: 9:04
CD: 34:47
Label Warp
Producer Richard D. James
Professional reviews
AFX chronology
Analogue Bubblebath 5
(1993)
Hangable Auto Bulb
(1995)
Analogue Bubblebath 3.1
(1997)
Original covers
EP1
EP2

Hangable Auto Bulb is a 1995 electronic music album by Richard D. James, under his alias AFX. It was re-released on CD on October 31, 2005.

Contents

Overview

Split across two 12″ EPs, the second released eight weeks after the first and each limited to 1000 pressings, the records marked a significant change in sound from previous AFX and Aphex Twin releases. Moving away from the analogue sounds of the previous releases, Donkey Rhubarb and …I Care Because You Do, the tracks show James experimenting with computer-arranged Breakbeat programming and timestretched samples, and this can be seen as a precursor to Richard D. James Album. This would become the dominant sound in his work up until the Analord releases of 2005.

The records are influenced by the early EPs of fellow Cornish producer Plug (Luke Vibert), as well as other Drum and bass movements of the day. Due to their rarity, original pressings have become collector's items, selling for substantial sums on eBay.

Track listing

12″ EPs

Hangable Auto Bulb EP (1995)

  1. "Children Talking" – 5:19
  2. "Hangable Auto Bulb" – 6:48
  3. "Laughable Butane Bob" – 2:58
  4. "Bit" – 0:06
  5. "Custodian Discount" – 4:25
  6. "Wabby Legs" – 5:29

Hangable Auto Bulb EP.2 (1995)

  1. "Every Day" – 3:44
  2. "Arched Maid Via RDJ" – 5:20

CD

  1. "Children Talking" – 5:22
  2. "Hangable Auto Bulb" – 6:52
  3. "Laughable Butane Bob" – 3:02
  4. "Bit" – 0:11
  5. "Custodian Discount" – 4:30
  6. "Wabby Legs" – 5:35
  7. "Every Day" – 3:50
  8. "Arched Maid Via RDJ" – 5:25

The CD lengths are slightly different from the original EPs. On some pressings, tracks 7 and 8 are erroneously reversed.

Anagrams

The album's title is an anagram of "Analogue Bublbath", a reference to James' previous AFX release series, Analogue Bubblebath.

Also, as on James' previous album …I Care Because You Do, a number of the track titles are anagrams:

  • of Analogue Bubblebath: "Laughable Butane Bob"
  • of Analogue Bublbath [sic]: "Hangable Auto Bulb"
  • of Richard David Jame [sic]: "Arched Maid Via RDJ"
  • of Caussttic Ouinnddo [sic] (correctly spelled "Caustic Window"): "Custodian Discount"

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hangable Auto Bulb" Read more