On (EP)
Encyclopedia
On is the title of a 1993 EP
by the British electronic music
artist Richard D. James, more commonly known by his recording alias
of Aphex Twin
. It was released on 15 November 1993 by Warp Records
. On Remixes, featuring remixes by James, Reload
and µ-Ziq
, was also released on the same day.
Released after his album
Selected Ambient Works 85–92
, and just before his follow-up, Selected Ambient Works Volume II
, On is often described as ambient techno despite the presence of harsh, abrasive beats on the title track. The title "On" is only mentioned once: in the track list of the On EP.
The Sire Records (US) version of On contains only "On," "73-Yips," and "Xepha" with early fade-outs, followed by the Reload Mix of "On," and it is housed in an Ecopak case instead of the standard slimline jewel case in which the Warp (UK) release was packaged.
The "D-Scape Mix", in actuality a remix of "D-Scape" from On, features mostly harsh sucking noises, making it unpleasant for many listeners. The "28 Mix", also nothing like the original, is rumoured to be the unreleased 28th track of Selected Ambient Works Volume II
.
, directed by Jarvis Cocker
and Martin Wallace, features drips of water synchronized with the song, a stop-motion
sequence filmed on a beach involving numerous props (including an old fashioned diving suit
and a cardboard cutout of James), and images of the tide. It is available on the Come to Viddy (VHS, 1997) and WarpVision: The Videos 1989–2004
(DVD, 2004) compilations.
s circulating on the Internet
that simply had the name "Aphex Twin - Madreporic Plate", which turned out to be the "On (Reload Mix)" version. But the naming caused some people to search for a non-existent Aphex Twin track called "Madreporic Plate" without luck.
According to a definition at biology-online.org, a Madreporic Plate (also called a madreporite
) is a perforated plate in echinoderms, through which water is admitted to the ambulacral tubes. This may have been the inspiration for the design of the cover where there are triangles pointing outwards from the logo, representing the shape of many echinoderms.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the British electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
artist Richard D. James, more commonly known by his recording alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. It was released on 15 November 1993 by Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
. On Remixes, featuring remixes by James, Reload
Global Communication
Global Communication is an electronic music act, composed of Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard. Their debut LP, 76:14 is one of the most acclaimed albums from the ambient music genre and from 1990s electronic music in general....
and µ-Ziq
Mike Paradinas
Michael Paradinas , who works primarily under the name μ-Ziq in addition to a large number of aliases, is a British musician in the field of electronic music.-History:...
, was also released on the same day.
Released after his album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Selected Ambient Works 85–92
Selected Ambient Works 85–92
-External links:*...
, and just before his follow-up, Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Selected Ambient Works Volume II
-Formatting notes:The cassette version of the album featured six songs on each side, barring side three, which contained seven . The vinyl version featured four songs on each side, excluding side four, which contained five ....
, On is often described as ambient techno despite the presence of harsh, abrasive beats on the title track. The title "On" is only mentioned once: in the track list of the On EP.
On Remixes
- "On (D-Scape Mix)" – 10:40
- "On (Reload Mix)" – 7:06
- "On (µ-Ziq Mix)" – 8:43
- "On (28 Mix)" – 6:47
The Sire Records (US) version of On contains only "On," "73-Yips," and "Xepha" with early fade-outs, followed by the Reload Mix of "On," and it is housed in an Ecopak case instead of the standard slimline jewel case in which the Warp (UK) release was packaged.
The "D-Scape Mix", in actuality a remix of "D-Scape" from On, features mostly harsh sucking noises, making it unpleasant for many listeners. The "28 Mix", also nothing like the original, is rumoured to be the unreleased 28th track of Selected Ambient Works Volume II
Selected Ambient Works Volume II
-Formatting notes:The cassette version of the album featured six songs on each side, barring side three, which contained seven . The vinyl version featured four songs on each side, excluding side four, which contained five ....
.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
and Martin Wallace, features drips of water synchronized with the song, a stop-motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
sequence filmed on a beach involving numerous props (including an old fashioned diving suit
Standard diving dress
A standard diving dress consists of a metallic diving helmet, an airline or hose from a surface supplied diving air pump, a canvas diving suit, diving knife and boots...
and a cardboard cutout of James), and images of the tide. It is available on the Come to Viddy (VHS, 1997) and WarpVision: The Videos 1989–2004
WarpVision
WarpVision: The Videos 1989-2004 is a DVD released by British record label Warp Records on September 27, 2004, which features most of the music videos produced for their artists in the 1989-2004 period...
(DVD, 2004) compilations.
Madreporic Plate
The text "Madreporic Plate" appears on the cover of the album just below the Aphex Twin logo. Although it is not the name of the album, there were mp3MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s circulating on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
that simply had the name "Aphex Twin - Madreporic Plate", which turned out to be the "On (Reload Mix)" version. But the naming caused some people to search for a non-existent Aphex Twin track called "Madreporic Plate" without luck.
According to a definition at biology-online.org, a Madreporic Plate (also called a madreporite
Madreporite
The madreporite is a lightcolored calcerous opening used to filter water into the water vascular system of echinoderms. It acts like a pressure-equalizing valve. It is visible as a small red or yellow button-like structure, looking like a small wart, on the aboral surface of the central disk of a...
) is a perforated plate in echinoderms, through which water is admitted to the ambulacral tubes. This may have been the inspiration for the design of the cover where there are triangles pointing outwards from the logo, representing the shape of many echinoderms.
External links
- On at the Warp Records website