Customer Rating:  
Summary: Fresh
Comment: Could Richard D. James ever predicted, way back in 1985, what people would be cherishing these years later? It's nearly 2008, but this album sounds like it could come from the year 2020 and still sound good. Ambient music may be one of the most calm music out there, with a lot of soul that fans always wonder why so many people give such a fuss about disney music. It's hard to believe music like this comes from electronics.
Okay, it may be a bit cliched, but for those of you who were introduced and know Aphex Twin by the Come To Daddy song (which was an accidental hit according to Richard, he didn't really like it), prepare to be surprised. Indeed, there's no hint of creepiness or fear in this album, it's light and fear free. It's still an ambient album at heart, but it's got one of a kind melodies and some cool rhythms. Aphex Twin was making his own kind of music sense the beggining. And thankfully, there's some great music on here!
There truly isn't a bad song on this album, although it's a bit long and demands you to be in the right mood to be able to sit through it. There's not much else to say to any electronic music fans out there. Get Selected Ambient Works, or at least check it out. You won't be dissapointed. If you don't like, at least you say you tried. You can't be an electronic fan and ignore music like this.
8.5/10
Update: This album is being remastered and rereleased, if you haven't seen it on amazon yet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: some of my favorite electronic music
Comment: The first 3 tracks on this album are so simple, yet so great. The melodies speak to me of peace, bliss, higher consciousness, compassion, yea, all the finer, nobler abilities of humanity. They have a loving, innocent child-like quality that I love to hear. These lift my spirit.
The rest of the songs, to varying degrees, tend toward more of a worldly feel, more towards the abrasive, cynical, jaded, whereas the first 3 seem to be completely unchained from all the baser worldly aspects and worries these times we find ourselves in so readily and abundantly produce.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Does it get better than this?
Comment: Selected Ambient Works 85-92 is, in a word, brilliant. I've only recently discovered the genius that is Richard D. James, and though I am also a fan of his later stuff, I think this release is not only the best Aphex Twin album but quite possibly one of the best electronica albums out there right now.
For those of you familiar with his later work, let me get this out of the way and let you know that you won't find any of RDJ's trademark schizophrenic percussion or use of creepy children's voices here. SAW 85-92 is haunting, ambient, otherworldly, yet strangely nostalgic and familiar-- the best way I can describe it is it's kind of like an underwater acid trip.
If you are a fan of electronica, the best advice I can give to you is grab this album, turn off the lights, find somewhere comfortable to lay down, put on your headphones (this is important-- something seems to get lost when you play this over regular speakers) and let SAW 85-92 take you on a journey through the corridors of Richard D. James' brain. You won't regret it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Comment: This Album is an all out classic. It is arguably the greatest Ambient album of all time. I highly reccomend it. Each track although sounding similar are very different. the only track that doesn't fit here(and I am not alone) is green Calx, it's much too abrasive, almost like something from James' other moniker Caustic Window
If you want a piece of electronic history I think it's a must have. If you enjoy BOC and early Autechre and Seefeel work than it is also a must have.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Discotheque Music
Comment: "Selected Ambient Works"...Helloo...This is not Ambient music! "Pulsewidth" move your right shoulder back.."Ptolemy" bring your left one out.."Delphium" pivot on your heel and boogie. Shallow monotonous eastern european night club music. I agree with Spotlight Reviewer - Hannaford (5/7/03) "it's definitely not a challenging record". Devoid of emotion, cold and obsessed with repetativness. "Schottkey 7th Path" is a standout on this CD: an anguished curved disturbing contemplation.
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