Hot on the heels of the first Caustic Window EP, Joyrex J5 offers more of the same manic acid techno and blissed out rave lushness.
On Astroblaster, an endlessly descending bassline cockscrews round and round a pummelling kick drum in a deliriously filthy spiral. And the title track proffers up more malevolent bass and adrenaline-inducing percussive energy.
R2-D2 is new to my ears, it not being included on the Caustic Window Compilation where I originally heard most of these tunes. Most likely due to the uncleared sample of the eponymous droid, who bleeps and squawks over a fairly standard acid techno mash-up.
But this EP is all about On the Romance Tip, another stone cold classic from the early RDJ catalogue. The synth refrain is classic Aphex, expansive yet reflective, melancholic yet optimistic at the same time. The drum programming is artfully detailed; the deep kick drums echoing under ricocheting snares and hi-hats feel like waves crashing against a rocky shore, with clouds of surf being launched into the air in an endless pulse.
Rating: 2 / 5 – One for the fans (but On the Romance Tip is 5/5)
George's Music Blog 