Aphex Twin
Selected Ambient Works II
Sire/Warner Brothers
Released: April
1994 If you can listen to the first track of this album and not have to own it,
well, I guess we were never really friends. Whoops, I meant, "this album
isn't right for you, but I would never judge you on the basis of your musical
taste."
It's a rippling hypnotic mix of half-phrases and what sounds like a harp
being played underwater. What is she saying? Once, in an altered state of
mind, I tried transcribing those beautiful repeated syllables. It went
something like : "vanya, vanya dala, vala vala, dala dala . ." forever on
into a darkened sky. Eventually her voice fades down and that beautiful
harp is all that is left. One repeated trill that slows, grows tired, but
keeps coming back like a warm hand brushing your hair as you drift away into
sleep. It goes on so long, so long. You keep thinking, oh, it's gone now,
this is the end, but it keeps coming back to soothe you into an easy sleep.
After I die, if I am given the option to come back as four seconds of music,
I have already made my choice.