Drukqs

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drukqs (sometimes spelled Drukqs or drukQs) is a 2001 experimental double album by Richard D. James, released under his most frequently used artistic name, Aphex Twin.

Contents

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Overview

The title's pronunciation is debatable, due to the cover art capitalizing the "q", leading to some fans to refer to it as "druck-use" (i.e., drug-use). However, drukqs is spelled in lower case everywhere else on the packaging, so most fans simply pronounce it "drucks". James has stated that the title is not related to drugs, and is "just a word [he] made up." [1]

After releasing the Windowlicker single in 1999, James took a long break from releasing music. During this time, he played DJ sets in his home county of Cornwall, re-released his first album on the Warp label (Surfing On Sine Waves), and spread misinformation that he was retiring from releasing music.

In late 2001, rumors began circulating about a new album coming out. Richard claimed he had stored the entire new album on an MP3 player, but had lost it on a plane with no backup copies, and that drukqs would be a selection of unreleased tracks instead. This is a plausible hypothesis, as the electronic tracks are strikingly similar in style to previous works (see the Style section for more details). James also seems to be on poor terms with Warp Records, his label, and may have released this half-unreleased-tracks/half-piano double album to fulfill his contract requirements. Another explanation is that James simply had enough money so that promoting a new record was pointless extra work, so he took some time off in between Windowlicker and drukqs.

drukqs is available in three formats for purchase. The first, and most common, is the CD release. The second is the regular 180 gram vinyl release. Thirdly, a 180 gram limited edition audiophile version is available, pressed on heavy virgin (unrecycled) vinyl by RTI [2], and presented in a 12" × 17" box, limited to 1,000 hand numbered copies.

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Track listing

drukqs comprises 30 tracks, divided into two discs on the CD release (15 songs on each disc), and onto 8 sides on the quadruple vinyl release. Sides A through D are intended to be played at 45 rpm, while sides E through H are meant to be played at 33 rpm (although many fans find pleasure in listening to the songs sped up or slowed down).

Titles that differ from the more commonly available CD version are noted in brackets.

  1. "jynweythek" [jynweythek ylow] – 2:14
  2. "Vordhosbn" – 4:42
  3. "Kladfvgbung Micshk" – 2:00
  4. "omgyjya-Switch7" – 4:46
  5. "Strotha tynhe" – 2:03
  6. "gwely Mernans" – 5:00
  7. "bbydhyonchord" – 2:21
  8. "cock/Ver10" – 5:17
  9. "avril 14th" – 1:55
  10. "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels mount" – 8:02
  11. "gwarek2" – 6:38
  12. "Orban eq trx4" – 1:27
  13. "aussois" – 0:07
  14. "hy a Scullyas lyf a dhagrow" – 2:09
  15. "Kesson dalef" [Kesson daslef] – 1:18
  16. "54 Cymru beats" – 5:59
  17. "btoum-roumada" – 1:56
  18. "Lornaderek" – 0:30
  19. "QKThr" [Penty Harmonium] – 1:20
  20. "meltphace 6" – 6:14
  21. "bit 4" – 0:18
  22. "prep gwarlek 3b" – 1:13
  23. "father" – 0:51
  24. "taking Control" – 7:08
  25. "petiatil cx htdui" – 2:05
  26. "ruglen holon" – 1:45
  27. "afx237 v7" – 4:15
  28. "ziggomatic 17" [ziggomatic v17] – 8:28
  29. "beskhu3epnm" – 1:58
  30. "nanou 2" – 3:22

Various titles are in Cornish, a Celtic language related to Gaelic Welsh and Breton spoken in Cornwall, James' home. James said he "went back to his roots" in Cornwall, or "Kernow" as it is known in Cornish. Translations include "Jynweythek [Ylow]" for "Electronic Machine [Music]", "Vordhosbn" would mean "Sailboat", and "Cymru" would mean "Wales". Comically, "hy a Scullyas lyf a dhagrow" would roughly translate as "She wasted my pint". Various numbers found in words may actually represent archaic letters.

Several tracks do not relate to Cornish but have their own individual meanings: "Lornaderek" combines the names of James' mother and father, respectively, whereas "Father" is named so because his father enjoyed the piece. "Mt Saint Michel [3], [4] + Saint Michaels mount [5], [6]" is named after two actual places, Mont Saint Michel and Saint Michael's Mount, which are related to each other, the latter being a famous tourist attraction in Cornwall.

The vinyl editions of this album feature a slightly re-arranged tracklist.

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Style

James took full advantage of the advances in computing between 1996 and 2001, which allowed greater detail and frenetic complexity in his music. Other new equipment which developed his sound included the Concussor modular analogue drum machine system from British-based company Analogue Solutions—for instance, the track "Taking Control" appears to feature this heavily.

At least 13 of the 30 tracks are piano compositions, both prepared piano (a style pioneered by John Cage), and normal piano. These tracks have an acoustic beauty not commonly associated with an electronic music artist such as James. The instrument used was a MIDI-controlled Yamaha Disklavier, which James programmed to play via sequencers, rather than from the piano's keyboard. The Disklavier is a modern descendent of the player pianos of the late 19th and early 20th century, which were controlled by rolls of punched paper tape.

A few tracks feature short samples, (synthesizer experiments, voices, etc.) under 20 seconds in length. "54 Cymru beats" features sounds sampled from "[Equation]", a computer speaking in Welsh, and a short version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. "Lornaderek" is an answerphone message of James' parents Lorna and Derek singing "Happy Birthday" to their "little 28 year old son", while "gwely Mernans" could be from Selected Ambient Works Volume II.

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External links

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