Aphex Twin - Syro · riki's house

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buy: Bandcamp
2023-09-03
I really like the synth-heavy style in this one
2023-09-03
- one of my friends said this is probably the most approachable Aphex Twin album of them all, and I think he’s right
  2023-09-03
a really weird thing with Syro is the track names
2023-09-03
- Aphex Twin is known for track names that are complete gibberish (hello drukQs, except drukQs names are appearently Cornish) but Syro takes it to the next level
  2023-09-03
  - even I with my insanely good memory for weird ass names do not remember the full name of my favorite track
    2023-09-03
    that track being something something [141.98] [piezoluminescence mix]
    2023-09-03
    yes, I do remember the BPM though.
    2023-09-03
  - but the track names follow a pretty simple scheme: gibberish [BPM][optional mix]
    2023-09-03
    I find it pretty cool that he includes the BPM in the track name.
    2023-09-03
    it’ll become important later.
    2023-09-03
    I’m not sure what is up with the [mix] parts, but let’s just go with it. they help me remember the tracks so I’m not complaining
    2023-09-03
favorite tracks
2023-09-03
- syro u473t8+e [141.98][piezoluminescence mix]
  - the choppy, chiptune-like synths make for a really cool vibe
    2023-09-03
  - and piezoluminescence is apparently a real phenomenon, iirc occurring when you strike quartz crystals with force, and this track does indeed feel like that.
    2023-09-03
    think I first heard about it in a Steve Mould video but I don’t remember which one. maybe the one about piezoelectricity?
    2023-09-03
    but that’s a different phenomenon, so probably not that one. I may be misremembering.
    2023-09-03
- CIRCLONT14 [152.97][shrymoming mix]
  - starts out a little dissonant, but builds up into some really nice chords and has a real bop of a drum track.
    2023-09-03
  - the vocal samples too make for a pretty soft composition
    2023-09-03
    although knowing Richard’s other works I am scared to look up what the vocal sample says
    2023-09-03
- s950tx16wasr10 [163.97][earth portal mix]
  - I love the bell-like sounds fed through a grain delay. gives it some really nice crystalline texture
    2023-09-03
  - features the Lyn Collins - Think break, which never gets old
    2023-09-03
    the only break which never gets older-er is the Amen Break, but both are equally legendary
    2023-09-03
141.98 BPM
2023-09-03
- there are two tracks on Syro whose tempo is 141.98 BPM: CIRCLONT6A [141.98][syrobonkus mix], and syro u473t8+e [141.98][piezoluminescence mix]
  2023-09-03
  - if you listen closely, there is a common leitmotif across these tracks:
    2023-09-03
    in CIRCLONT6A [141.98][syrobonkus mix] at 2:00
    2023-09-03
    in syro u473t8+e [141.98][piezoluminescence mix] at 3:46
    2023-09-03
  - there’s also a shared vocal sample at the beginning (at 0:18 in syrobonkus, at 0:00 in piezoluminescence)
    2023-09-03
    but I don’t speak Russian so I don’t understand what she’s saying (at least I think it’s Russian? correct me if I’m wrong)
    2023-09-03
I think I managed to nail down how Syro track names came to be.
2023-09-03
- I can’t find the exact video that made me realize this, but in some video on YouTube someone was using a step sequencer, and it prompted them to enter a track name.
  2023-09-03
  - given how these sequencer interfaces are pretty cumbersome to type on (given they’re mostly controlled with knobs and buttons whose layout distinctly does not resemble a computer keyboard), they just decided to just change out a number at the end
    2023-09-03
    and that’s my theory: that’s what happened with Syro
    2023-09-03
    you can kind of confirm this by looking at CIRCLONT6A and CIRCLONT14, as well as Aphex Twin’s Cheetah EP which features CHEETAHT2, CHEETAHT7b, CHEETA1b, CHEETA2, CIRKLON3, and CIRKLON 1. following this exact this naming scheme.
    2023-09-03
    but that’s just a theory. A MUSIC THEORY
    2023-09-03