Aphex Twin
Come to Daddy
[Warp/Sire]
Rating: 7.2
Honestly, Aphex Twin's been creeping me out a little lately. Over the
psychotic, twisted drum-n-bass are psychotic, twisted voices saying
things like, "I will eat your soul/ Come to Daddy" and "Ooh you/ Dirty
little boy." It also sheds a new light on his bizarre "To Cure a
Weakling Child." Maybe it's just me, but I think it's time someone had
a talk with him. Sure, it's all in jest, but child rape is a touchy
issue. (No pun intended.)
Musically (and this should come as no surprise), Come to Daddy
is the audible equivalent of strobe lights and crack cocaine. He gives
us a good dose of sped up, confusing beats and mystery distortion minus
the bullshit 60's film samples. Though, Richard D. James has done better
work than this, some standout tracks are nothing short of terrific. The
dizzying lovechimes of "Flim" and "IZ-US" are among the most incredible
things ever done with a computer and keyboard, and stand out as his best
work yet, even if they don't seem to fit alongside his gruesome kiddy
antics.
I'm still confused as to whether Come to Daddy is a new full-length
or an EP (my bet is on the latter), what with three different versions of
the title track and a remix of "To Cure a Weakling Child." All I can say
is, it's either gonna freak you out or turn you on (depending on whether or
not you've any pedophilic tendencies) and probably make you dance while it's
at it.
-Ryan Schreiber