Ventolin (song)
Encyclopedia
"Ventolin" is a piece of electronic music
composed by Cornish
musician Richard D James. It is noted for its abrasive sound. James recorded numerous versions of the piece under his Aphex Twin
alias.
The piece is named after a trade name for the drug Salbutamol
, which is prescribed for the treatment of asthma
. A reported side effect
of this drug is tinnitus
, a high pitched ringing in the ears. James utilized this effect in "Ventolin", incorporating a piercing high-pitched ringing sound throughout the track. The music also incorporates heavily distorted techno
beats. The resulting effect has been cited as "one of the most abrasive singles ever recorded". []
produced to accompany the track. The video consists of a woman being trapped in an elevator with other industrial images interspersed. The "Video Version" of the track was released a month later on the 1995 Aphex Twin album ...I Care Because You Do
.
The "Salbutamol Mix" on this EP is an extended version of the "Video Version".
released "Ventolin" as a single
in the United Kingdom
, on 12" vinyl
and CD
in two parts, Ventolin and Ventolin Remixes. Between them, these EPs featured a further 12 versions of "Ventolin". (The United States
release, by Sire Records
, collects all of the tracks on a single CD.)
The singles' artwork, by Dan Parkes (who also designed the artwork for On
), featured renaissance
-style anatomical
drawings of a human head and upper torso, together with an asthma inhaler
and the Aphex Twin logo.
Whilst all the twelve versions of "Ventolin" on these singles are labelled as ostensible remix
es, in many cases they appear to be almost entirely new pieces of music, bearing only nominal relation to the original. The "Wheeze" mix is the only remix that utilizes the high-pitched ringing and sounds from the original Ventolin. In typical Richard D James fashion, several of the mixes are labelled with obscure or bizarre titles, some of which are Cornish placenames.
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...
composed by Cornish
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...
musician Richard D James. It is noted for its abrasive sound. James recorded numerous versions of the piece under his 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"...
alias.
The piece is named after a trade name for the drug Salbutamol
Salbutamol
Salbutamol or albuterol is a short-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolin among other brand names....
, which is prescribed for the treatment of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. A reported side effect
Adverse drug reaction
An adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dosage. ADRs may occur following a single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the combination of two or more drugs...
of this drug is tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
, a high pitched ringing in the ears. James utilized this effect in "Ventolin", incorporating a piercing high-pitched ringing sound throughout the track. The music also incorporates heavily distorted techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
beats. The resulting effect has been cited as "one of the most abrasive singles ever recorded". []
Album/video version
The first recording of "Ventolin" (the "Video Version") appeared on a 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...
produced to accompany the track. The video consists of a woman being trapped in an elevator with other industrial images interspersed. The "Video Version" of the track was released a month later on the 1995 Aphex Twin album ...I Care Because You Do
...I Care Because You Do
-Song titles:Several of the song titles are anagrams:* of Aphex Twin: "Wax the nip"* of The Aphex Twin: "The Waxen pith", "Wet tip hen ax", "next heap with"* of Richard David James: "Acrid Avid Jam Shred"* of Caustic Window: "cow cud is a twin"...
.
The "Salbutamol Mix" on this EP is an extended version of the "Video Version".
Single releases
In 1995, Warp RecordsWarp 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....
released "Ventolin" as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, on 12" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in two parts, Ventolin and Ventolin Remixes. Between them, these EPs featured a further 12 versions of "Ventolin". (The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
release, by Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
, collects all of the tracks on a single CD.)
The singles' artwork, by Dan Parkes (who also designed the artwork for On
On (EP)
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...
), featured renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
-style anatomical
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
drawings of a human head and upper torso, together with an asthma inhaler
Inhaler
An inhaler or puffer is a medical device used for delivering medication into the body via the lungs. It is mainly used in the treatment of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease . Zanamivir , used to treat influenza, must be administered via inhaler...
and the Aphex Twin logo.
Whilst all the twelve versions of "Ventolin" on these singles are labelled as ostensible remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es, in many cases they appear to be almost entirely new pieces of music, bearing only nominal relation to the original. The "Wheeze" mix is the only remix that utilizes the high-pitched ringing and sounds from the original Ventolin. In typical Richard D James fashion, several of the mixes are labelled with obscure or bizarre titles, some of which are Cornish placenames.
Ventolin
- "Ventolin" (Salbutamol Mix) – 5:46
- "Ventolin" (Praze-An-Beeble Mix) – 3:21
- "Ventolin" (Marazanvose Mix) – 2:10
- "Ventolin" (Plain-An-Gwarry Mix) – 4:37
- "Ventolin" (The Coppice Mix) – 4:35
- "Ventolin" (Crowsmengegus Mix) – 5:52
Ventolin Remixes
- "Ventolin" (Wheeze Mix) – 7:07
- "Ventolin" (Carharrack Mix) – 2:49
- "Ventolin" (Probus Mix) – 4:14
- "Ventolin" (Cylob Mix) – 5:02
- Remix by CylobCylobCylob is the alias of UK electronic music maker Chris Jeffs. A trombone player in his youth, he progressed to experimenting with electronic music and recording in his late teens.-Career:...
- Remix by Cylob
- "Ventolin" (Deep Gong Mix) – 6:18
- Remix by Luke VibertLuke VibertLuke Vibert is a British recording artist and producer known for his work in many subgenres of electronic music. Vibert began his musical career as a member of the Hate Brothers, only later branching out into his own compositions...
- Remix by Luke Vibert
- "Ventolin" (Asthma Beats Mix) – 1:39