Melodies from Mars
| Melodies from Mars | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album (unreleased) by Aphex Twin | ||||
| Released | Unreleased | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Length | 45:25 | |||
| Producer | Richard D. James | |||
| Aphex Twin chronology | ||||
| ||||
Melodies from Mars is a collection of unreleased tracks by Richard David James, better known under his pseudonym Aphex Twin. Although James did not admit authorship until 2014,[1] it was known to fans as an unofficial Aphex Twin album because at least two of its tracks are alternate versions (possibly demo versions) of tracks featured on the subsequently released Richard D. James Album (1996). Some tracks also bear resemblance to those on Analogue Bubblebath 5.
There are few places to find this album. It is commonly believed that Melodies from Mars was given to some of James's friends on cassette tapes. The Aphex Twin Community claims that "men in black suits" (Rephlex) asked it to remove MP3 excerpts from its website. The best sources for finding it today are likely via online P2P file-sharing networks.
An alternate version was illegally released in Russia by Unreal Records. It is missing the below-mentioned version of "Logan Rock Witch." The song title remains, but the audio is of another track, "Untitled 7."[2]
In a 2010 interview with Another Man, James stated, "I’ve got six [albums] completed... one is Melodies from Mars, which I redid about three years ago."[3]
According to Mike Paradinas, the collaboration album Mike & Rich was partially inspired by Melodies From Mars.
Track listing
All tracks written by Richard D James.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Untitled | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Fingerbib" (alternative version) | 4:16 |
| 3. | Untitled | 2:20 |
| 4. | Untitled | 4:14 |
| 5. | Untitled | 5:14 |
| 6. | Untitled | 3:52 |
| 7. | Untitled | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Logan Rock Witch" (alternative version) | 4:21 |
| 9. | Untitled | 4:33 |
| 10. | Untitled | 5:12 |
| 11. | Untitled | 2:55 |
| 12. | Untitled | 1:30 |
- The version of "Fingerbib" on Melodies from Mars is longer than the version on Richard D. James Album.
- Versions of tracks 6 and 7 were used in the beginning of David Firth's animation "ALAN"[4]
- The version of "Logan Rock Witch" is different than the version on Richard D. James Album.
- A version of track 10 was used in David Firth's claymation short "Hollowhead".[5]
- David Firth has acoustically covered track 10, and used track 1 as the theme music for his "Panathinaikos Bear" shorts
- Track 12 features the same samples of pizzicato strings featured in "Girl/Boy Song" (track 9 on Richard D. James Album).
Personnel
- Richard D. James – synthesizer, producer
References
- ↑ Sherburne, Philip. "Aphex Twin Speaks on His New Album, Being Sampled by Kanye, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ↑ "Illegal Distribution".
- ↑ "Aphex Twin: "I've got six albums completed"".
- ↑ "ALAN at fat-pie.com".
- ↑ "Hollowhead at fat-pie.com".