Surfing on Sine Waves
Encyclopedia
Surfing on Sine Waves is an electronic music
album by Polygon Window, a pseudonym for recording artist Richard D. James, better known by his other alias of Aphex Twin
. The album was released on 11 January 1993 on Warp Records
, and is the second in its Artificial Intelligence series
. Warp also released "Quoth
" as a single in March 1993.
's R&S Records
, Warp
contacted James and offered him a recording contract. It is speculated that the Surfing on Sine Waves album was released as a chance to show off his collection of homemade and modified synthesizer
s. Richard D. James is listed as the creator of the music; however, his name is printed over the brown cliff on the back of the album, so it is not easily seen without careful scrutiny. The full text reads, "Writing, programming, arranging, engineering, producing + location recording by Richard D. James at Llannerlog Studios, Cornwall
." An image of him running down a flight of stairs can also be found inside the liner notes. This image was later used on the Quoth single.
The album is a collection of largely instrumental electronic music
(a few vocal samples are included in places, including one from the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music
"). It was most likely recorded by James onto cassettes in his bedroom studio (similar to the production of Selected Ambient Works 85-92), using a limited range of available drum machine
s, synthesizer
s, sequencer
s and samplers
, some of which he may have modified himself. The equipment included staples such as the Roland TB-303
bass synth/sequencer and Roland TR-606
drum machine on the Untitled track, a Roland R-8
digital drum machine, and low-budget synths such as the Yamaha DX100. Digital piano sample sounds are also used. Most of the tracks feature insistent drum machine patterns (the ambient "Quino-phec" being an exception) and James' characteristic angular and modal melodies. James makes liberal use of lengthy digital reverberation, giving a spacious feel to the tracks.
The album was re-released in North America in 2001 by Warp to celebrate the opening of its American division (albums by Warp had been distributed in the United States
through licensing deals with many labels—this one was originally released on Wax Trax!
/TVT Records
there). The re-release features two previously unreleased tracks that were recorded during the same time this album was created.
An edited version of the track "Polygon Window", credited to James as the Dice Man, was featured on the first album in the Artificial Intelligence series, the compilation Artificial Intelligence.
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...
album by Polygon Window, a pseudonym for recording artist Richard D. James, better known by his other alias 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"...
. The album was released on 11 January 1993 on 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....
, and is the second in its Artificial Intelligence series
Artificial Intelligence (series)
Artificial Intelligence is a series of albums by Warp Records released from 1992–1994 to exhibit the capabilities and sounds of electronic music. Warp described the new music as "electronic listening music" to clarify that it was meant more for the mind than the body...
. Warp also released "Quoth
Quoth (song)
Quoth is a single released by Richard D. James under the alias "Polygon Window". "Quoth" appears on the album Surfing On Sine Waves. Quoth was released as a single on transparent vinyl and CD, accompanied with two remixes of the title track, and two exclusive non-album tracks...
" as a single in March 1993.
Recording details
After hearing James's early material as Aphex Twin on BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's R&S Records
R&S Records
R&S Records is an independent record label. Founded in 1984 in Ghent, Belgium, it is now based in London and managed by Andy Whittaker and Dan Foat.R&S represents the initials of Renaat Vandepapeliere and Sabine Maes, the couple that created the label...
, Warp
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....
contacted James and offered him a recording contract. It is speculated that the Surfing on Sine Waves album was released as a chance to show off his collection of homemade and modified synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s. Richard D. James is listed as the creator of the music; however, his name is printed over the brown cliff on the back of the album, so it is not easily seen without careful scrutiny. The full text reads, "Writing, programming, arranging, engineering, producing + location recording by Richard D. James at Llannerlog Studios, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
." An image of him running down a flight of stairs can also be found inside the liner notes. This image was later used on the Quoth single.
The album is a collection of largely instrumental 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...
(a few vocal samples are included in places, including one from the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
"). It was most likely recorded by James onto cassettes in his bedroom studio (similar to the production of Selected Ambient Works 85-92), using a limited range of available drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s, synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, sequencer
Sequencer
Sequencer may refer to:Arts and Entertainment* Sequencer , 1976* Sequencer , 1996Technology* DNA sequencer, a machine used to automatically produce a sequence readout from a biological DNA sample...
s and samplers
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
, some of which he may have modified himself. The equipment included staples such as the Roland TB-303
Roland TB-303
The Roland TB-303 Bass Line is a bass synthesizer with built-in sequencer manufactured by the Roland corporation from late 1981 to 1984 that had a defining role in the development of contemporary electronic music.-History:...
bass synth/sequencer and Roland TR-606
Roland TR-606
The Roland TR-606 Drumatix is a programmable analog synthesis drum machine built by the Roland Corporation from 1981 to 1984. It was originally designed to be used with the Roland TB-303, a monophonic analog bass synthesizer, to provide a simple drum and bass accompaniment to guitarists without...
drum machine on the Untitled track, a Roland R-8
Roland R-8
The Roland R-8 is an electronic drum machine that was introduced in 1988 by Roland Corporation. It has features such as velocity and pressure sensitive trigger pads, slots for expanding the sounds with removable ROM cards, and the ability to create loops of beats...
digital drum machine, and low-budget synths such as the Yamaha DX100. Digital piano sample sounds are also used. Most of the tracks feature insistent drum machine patterns (the ambient "Quino-phec" being an exception) and James' characteristic angular and modal melodies. James makes liberal use of lengthy digital reverberation, giving a spacious feel to the tracks.
The album was re-released in North America in 2001 by Warp to celebrate the opening of its American division (albums by Warp had been distributed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
through licensing deals with many labels—this one was originally released on Wax Trax!
Wax Trax! Records
Wax Trax! Records was an independent record label in the United States. Wax Trax! began as a record shop in Denver, Colorado opened by Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher. They sold the store in 1978 and, in November of that year, opened a new one under the same name at 2449 North Lincoln Avenue in...
/TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
there). The re-release features two previously unreleased tracks that were recorded during the same time this album was created.
An edited version of the track "Polygon Window", credited to James as the Dice Man, was featured on the first album in the Artificial Intelligence series, the compilation Artificial Intelligence.
1993 release
- "Polygon Window" - 5:24
- "Audax Powder" 4:36
- "QuothQuoth (song)Quoth is a single released by Richard D. James under the alias "Polygon Window". "Quoth" appears on the album Surfing On Sine Waves. Quoth was released as a single on transparent vinyl and CD, accompanied with two remixes of the title track, and two exclusive non-album tracks...
" - 5:34 - "If It Really Is Me" - 7:01
- "Supremacy II" - 4:04
- "UT1-dot" - 5:17
- (untitled) - 6:24
- "Quixote" - 6:00
- "Quino-phec" - 4:42
2001 US re-release
- "Polygon Window" - 5:24
- "Audax Powder" - 4:36
- "Quoth" - 5:34
- "If It Really Is Me" - 7:01
- "Supremacy II" - 4:04
- "UT1 - dot" - 5:17
- (untitled) - 6:24
- "Quixote" - 6:00
- "Portreath Harbour" - 4:44
- "Redruth School" - 2:43
- "Quino-phec" - 4:42
External links
- More info, artwork and samples
- Complete Polygon Window discography
- Surfing on Sine Waves at the Warp Records website