AFX - 'Hangable Auto Bulb' (Warp) Released 31/10/05

Ten years ago in Sheffield, a then relatively unknown Richard D James produced two highly groundbreaking EPs known as Hangable Auto Bulb 1 and 2. Released under his AFX moniker, these works were a hybrid of forward thinking electronic noises and samples devoid of conventional arrangements or the standard loop of eight house beats, James pioneered breaks and what was to become his trademark, unhinged Aphex Twin sound. Five years later, of course, inspired by the innovative work Richard D James and Warp consistently produced Radiohead took influence for the seminal ‘Kid A’, taking such sounds into the mainstream psyche.

Limited to a few thousand copies each, unsurprisingly HAB have become collector’s items, leaving much of the material unheard to the public. Thankfully, a decade on the kind people at Warp have given the two EP’s a release as a CD album. The aptly named ‘Children Talking’ fuses erratic beats with, ahem, children talking about “mashed potato”. Very strange, indeed. ‘Bit’ is a six second clip of squelching noises, while the seemingly aimless ‘Custodian Discount’ takes drum n’ bass beats and layers them next to weird electronic noises. While on the surface, these works may seem introspective and detached, there’s something strangely human about this music. The synth-driven, emotive ‘Laughable Butane Bob’ is strangely affecting despite its odd hyperactive interlude, while the whirring ‘Every Day’ is nothing short of epic. 

Perhaps lacking the visceral depth and vibrancy of his late works a là ‘Windowlicker’, this is an uncompromising, raw yet brilliant work, that’s eight tracks provide a perfect starting snippet into Aphex Twin’s deranged mind.