Surfing on Sine Waves

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Surfing on Sine Waves
Studio album by Polygon Window
Released	January 11, 1993
Recorded	Llannerlog Studios, Cornwall
Genre	Techno
Length	56:58
Label	Warp WARP7
Producer(s)	Richard D. James
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork Media (8.1/10.0) link
Aphex Twin chronology
Xylem Tube EP (1992)	Surfing on Sine Waves (1993)	On (EP) (1993)
Artificial Intelligence series chronology
Artificial Intelligence (1992)	Surfing on Sine Waves (1993)

Surfing on Sine Waves is an electronic music and early IDM album by Polygon Window, a pseudonym for recording artist Richard D. James, better known by his other alias of Aphex Twin. The album was released January 11, 1993 on Warp Records, and is the second in their Artificial Intelligence series.

Contents 1 Recording details 2 Track listing 2.1 1993 release 2.2 2001 US re-release 2.3 Singles 3 External links

[edit] Recording details

After hearing James's early material as Aphex Twin on Belgium's R&S Records, Warp contacted James and offered him a recording contract and a chance to "show off" his collection of homemade and modified synthesizers. He would later continue to release material on Warp, but under his other alias of Aphex Twin. Richard D. James is listed as the creator of the music, however his name is printed over the brown cliff on the back of the album, so it is not easy to see without careful scrutiny. The full text reads "Writing, programming, arranging, engineering, producing + location recording by Richard d. James at Llannerlog Studios, Cornwall." An image of him running down a flight of stairs can also be found inside the liner notes.

The album is a collection of largely instrumental electronic music (a few vocal samples are included in places, including one from the broadway musical "The Sound of Music"). It might have been recorded by James onto cassettes in his bedroom studio, using a limited range of cheaply available drum machines, synthesizers, sequencers and samplers, some of which he may have modified himself. The equipment included staples such as the Roland TB-303 bass synth/sequencer and Roland TR-606 drum machine on an untitled track, Roland R8 digital drum machine, and low-budget synths such as the Yamaha DX100. Digital piano sample sounds are also used. Most of the tracks feature insistent drum machine patterns (the ambient Quino-phec being an exception) and James' characteristic angular, modal, melodies. James makes liberal use of lengthy digital reverberation, giving a spacious feel to the tracks.

The album was re-released in 2000 by Warp to celebrate the opening of Warp's American division (albums by Warp had previously been distributed in America through Sire Records and Nothing Records). The re-release features two previously unreleased tracks that were recorded during the same time this album was created.

An alternative version of "Polygon Window", credited to James as "The Dice Man", was featured on the first album in the Artificial Intelligence series, the compilation Artificial Intelligence.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 1993 release

1. "Polygon Window" 5:24
2. "Audax Powder" 4:36
3. "Quoth" 5:34
4. "If It Really Is Me" 7:01
5. "Supremacy II" 4:04
6. "UT1-dot" 5:17
7. [untitled] 6:24
8. "Quixote" 6:00
9. "Quino-phec" 4:42

[edit] 2001 US re-release

1. "Polygon Window" 5:24
2. "Audax Powder" 4:36
3. "Quoth" 5:34
4. "If It Really Is Me" 7:01
5. "Supremacy II" 4:04
6. "UT1 - dot" 5:17
7. [Untitled] 6:24
8. "Quixote" 6:00
9. "Portreath Harbour" 4:44
10. "Redruth School" 2:43
11. "Quino-phec" 4:42

[edit] Singles

The album version of "Quoth" was released as a single on transparent vinyl and CD, accompanied with two remixes of title track, and two exclusive non-album tracks.

• "Quoth" 5:34
• "Iketa" 4:27
• "Quoth (Wooden Thump Mix)" 7:52
• "Bike Pump Meets Bucket" 5:48
• "Quoth (Hidden Mix)" 6:46, only on US CD version.

[edit] External links

• More info, artwork and samples
• Complete Polygon Window discography
• Surfing on Sine Waves at the Warp Records discography (features audio clips).

Richard D. James
Discography
As Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992) - Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994) - ...I Care Because You Do (1995) - Richard D. James (1996) - Come to Daddy (1997) - Windowlicker (1999) - drukqs (2001) - Analord 10 (2005) - Chosen Lords (2006) As AFX: Analogue Bubblebath (1991) - Analogue Bubblebath 2 (1991) - Analogue Bubblebath 3 (1993) - Analogue Bubblebath 4 (1994) - Hangable Auto Bulb (1995) - Analord (2005) - Chosen Lords (2006) As Polygon Window: Surfing on Sine Waves (1993)
Related Artcles
Warp Records | Rephlex Records | Mike & Rich | Universal Indicator
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