Drukqs

Drukqs
Studio album by Aphex Twin
Released	22 October 2001 (2001-10-22)
Genre	Electronic, ambient, acid techno, breakcore, glitch, noise, experimental techno
Length	100:48
Label	Warp Records WARP092 (UK) Sire/WEA Records 31174 (rest of world)
Producer	Richard D. James
Aphex Twin chronology
"Windowlicker" (1999) Drukqs (2001) 26 Mixes for Cash (2003)

Drukqs (stylised as drukQs) is a 2001 double album by electronic musician Richard D. James, released under his most frequently used pseudonym, Aphex Twin. It is his fifth studio album under this alias.

Overview

The title's pronunciation is debatable, due to the cover art capitalizing the Q, leading to some fans to pronounce it as druck-use (a possible pun on "drug use"). However, Drukqs is spelled in lower case everywhere else on the packaging, so most fans simply pronounce it drucks.^{[citation needed]} James has stated that the title is not related to drugs, and is "just a word [he] made up."^[1] The 5-track promotional CD of the album is spelled Drukqs.

After releasing the "Windowlicker" single in 1999, James took a long break from releasing music. During this time, he played DJ sets in his home county of Cornwall, re-released his first album on the Warp label, Surfing on Sine Waves, and spread disinformation that he was retiring from releasing music.^{[citation needed]}

Drukqs is available in three formats for purchase. The first and most common is the CD release. The second is the regular 180-gram vinyl release. The third is a 180-gram limited edition audiophile version, pressed on heavy virgin (unrecycled) vinyl by Record Technology Incorporated and presented in a 12-inch × 17-inch box limited to 1,000 numbered copies.

The CD itself features Aphex Twin spelled out with Sinclair ZX81 keys.^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	66 [3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
NME	(9/10)[5]
Pitchfork Media	(5.5/10)[6]

Initial critical response to Drukqs ranged from average to positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 66, based on 21 reviews.^[3]

Track listing

Drukqs comprises 30 tracks, divided into two discs on the CD release (15 songs on each disc) and on eight sides on the quadruple-vinyl release. The vinyl editions of this album feature a slightly re-arranged track list. Several of the tracks have different spellings on the vinyl release, while "QKThr" is given the name "Penty Harmonium." The first four sides of vinyl are listed for play at 45 RPM, while the last four are listed as 33⅓ RPM.

All songs composed by Richard D. James.

CD

Disc one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jynweythek"	2:14
2.	"Vordhosbn"	4:42
3.	"Kladfvgbung Micshk"	2:00
4.	"Omgyjya-Switch7"	4:46
5.	"Strotha Tynhe"	2:03
6.	"Gwely Mernans"	5:00
7.	"Bbydhyonchord"	2:21
8.	"Cock/Ver10"	5:17
9.	"Avril 14th"	1:55
10.	"Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount"	8:02
11.	"Gwarek2"	6:38
12.	"Orban Eq Trx 4"	1:27
13.	"Aussois"	0:07
14.	"Hy A Scullyas Lyf A Dhagrow"	2:09
15.	"Kesson Daslef"	1:18
Total length:		49:59

Disc two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"54 Cymru Beats"	5:59
2.	"Btoum-Roumada"	1:56
3.	"Lornaderek"	0:30
4.	"QKThr"	1:20
5.	"Meltphace 6"	6:14
6.	"Bit 4"	0:18
7.	"Prep Gwarlek 3b"	1:13
8.	"Father"	0:51
9.	"Taking Control"	7:08
10.	"Petiatil Cx Htdui"	2:05
11.	"Ruglen Holon"	1:45
12.	"Afx237 v.7"	4:15
13.	"Ziggomatic 17"	8:28
14.	"Beskhu3epnm"	1:58
15.	"Nanou2"	3:22
Total length:		47:22

Vinyl

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jynweythek Ylow"	2:14
2.	"Vordhosbn"	4:42
3.	"Kladfvgbung Micshk"	2:00
4.	"Strotha Tynhe"	2:03
Total length:		10:59

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Omgyjya Switch7"	4:46
2.	"Gwely Mernans"	5:00
Total length:		09:46

Side three
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Cock/Ver10"	5:17
2.	"Bbydhyonchord"	2:21
3.	"Orban Eq Trx4"	1:27
Total length:		09:05

Side four
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount"	8:02
2.	"Beskhu3epnm"	1:58
Total length:		10:00

Side five
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Aussois"	0:07
2.	"Hy A Scullyas Lyf A Dhagrow"	2:09
3.	"Kesson Daslef"	1:18
4.	"Avril 14th"	1:55
5.	"Gwarek2"	6:38
Total length:		12:07

Side six
No.	Title	Length
1.	"54 Cymru Beats"	5:59
2.	"Btoum-Roumada"	1:56
3.	"Lornaderek"	0:30
4.	"Penty Harmonium"	1:20
5.	"Prep Gwarlek 3b"	1:13
6.	"Father"	0:51
7.	"Petiatil Cx Htdui"	2:05
Total length:		13:54

Side seven
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Meltphace 6"	6:14
2.	"Bit 4"	0:18
3.	"Taking Control"	7:08
4.	"Ruglen Holon"	1:45
Total length:		15:25

Side eight
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Afx237 v.7"	4:15
2.	"Ziggomatic v17"	8:28
3.	"Nanou2"	3:22
Total length:		16:05

Song titles

Various titles are in Cornish, a Celtic language related to Welsh and Breton spoken in Cornwall, James's home. James said he "went back to his roots" in Cornwall,^{[citation needed]} or Kernow as it is known in Cornish. Translations include Jynweythek [Ylow] for "Electronic Machine [Music]", Vordhosbn for "Sailboat", and Cymru for "Wales". Comically, hy a Scullyas lyf a dhagrow would roughly translate as "She wasted my pint" (colloquially, "She spilled my pint") or "She shed a flood of tears".^{[citation needed]}) Various numbers found in words may actually represent archaic letters.

Several tracks do not relate to Cornish but have their own individual meanings: Lornaderek combines the names of James's mother and father, respectively, whereas "Father" is named so because his father enjoyed the piece. "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michael's mount" is named after two actual places, Mont Saint-Michel and St Michael's Mount, which are related to each other; the latter is a notable tourist attraction in Cornwall. "Nanou 2" appears to have been named after "Nannou," on Windowlicker.

Style

James took full advantage of the advances in computing between 1996 and 2001, which allowed greater detail and frenetic complexity in his music. New equipment that developed his sound included the Concussor analogue drum modules from British-based company Analogue Solutions—for instance, the track "Taking Control" appears to feature this heavily.

At least 13 of the 30 tracks are piano compositions, both prepared piano (a style made notable by John Cage) and normal piano. The instrument used was a MIDI-controlled Yamaha Disklavier that James claims to have programmed to play by sequencers rather than from the piano's keyboard. The Disklavier is a modern descendant of the player pianos of the late 19th and early 20th century, which were controlled by rolls of punched paper tape. For some pieces, James placed microphones inside the piano body, so that the workings of the Disklavier's mechanisms are heard in conjunction with the sounding of the notes, as a rhythmic counterpoint.

A few tracks feature short samples (synthesizer experiments, voices, etc.) under 20 seconds in length. "54 Cymru Beats" features sounds sampled from the Windowlicker single, a computer speaking in Welsh, and a short version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. "Lornaderek" is a telephone message of James's parents Lorna and Derek singing "Happy Birthday" to their "little 28-year-old son"; it's likely that this message was recorded on James's 28th birthday, which was 18 August 1999.

Media references

• The short film Rubber Johnny utilized an extended version of "Afx237 v.7" and "Gwarek2" as its background score.
• "Jynweythek Ylow" and "Avril 14th" were featured in Sofia Coppola's 2006 film Marie Antoinette.
• A slightly remixed version of "Omgyjya-Switch7", adding screams, is featured in the 2006 film Children of Men as an example of future "zen" music.
• "Nanou2" plays towards the end of the Shane Meadows film Dead Man's Shoes.
• "Avril 14th" was sampled in the digital short "Iran So Far" on a Saturday Night Live episode that aired on 2007-09-29. There were complications of this—NBC didn't get the rights to use the song. However, rights were eventually garnered by Chrysalis Music, Aphex Twin’s publishing company, for television and DVD usage, but The Lonely Island was not allowed to include the track on its album Incredibad.^[7]
• "Btoum-Roumada" is featured in the 2007 Harmony Korine film Mister Lonely.
• A poster of the album can be seen in the titular character's apartment in the 2005 film Shaun of the Dead.
• The short film Monkey Drummer uses the track "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michael's Mount."
• The track "Kesson Daslef" can be heard on the BBC Documentary "Cannabis: The Evil Weed?".
• 54 Cymru Beats contains random voice clips from the arcade game Berzerk
• "Avril 14th", "Penty Harmonium", "Kesson Dalef" and "Nanou2" were featured in the 2008 Welsh documentary, "Sleep Furiously".
• Warp Works & Twentieth Century Masters (2006) contains live recordings of the prepared piano pieces "Jynweythek" and "Hy A Scullyas Lyf Adhagrow" as performed by Clive Williamson; the London Sinfonetta also performs "Afx237 v.7".
• On a Recent Sky HD Advert, "Avril 14th" was use to be played as the background music.
• The 2009 compilation Warp20 (Recreated) features a cover of "Vordhosbn" by Leila.
• "Avril 14th" appears in the final episode of the first series of Sirens.
• "Avril 14th" appears in the final scene of the 2010 film Four Lions.
• A sample from "Avril 14th" provides the instrumental basis for the song "Blame Game" by Kanye West & John Legend from West's 5th studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
• The short film Fire May Be Subtle features the track "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michael's Mount" in its entirety.

Personnel

Aphex Twin - piano, prepared piano, harmonium, harpsichord, synthesizers, guitar, bass guitar, drums, marimba, xylophone, drum machine, sampler, production

Charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart	22[8]
U.S. Top Heatseekers	2
U.S. Top Electronic Albums	6
U.S. Billboard 200	154

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalogue
Japan	11 October 2001	Warner Music Japan	2×CD	WPCR-11093/4
United Kingdom	22 October 2001	Warp Records	2×CD	WARPCD92
			4×LP	WARPLP92
United States	23 October 2001	Sire Records	2×CD	31174-2
United Kingdom	9 September 2002	Warp Records	4×LP	WARPLP92X

References

1. ^ Lester, Paul (5 October 2001). "Tank boy". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,3605,563163,00.html. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
2. ^ Images for Aphex Twin - Drukqs
3. ^ ^{a b} Drukqs at Metacritic Retrieved 2011-10-07.
4. ^ Bush, John. Drukqs review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
5. ^ Needham, Alex. Drukqs review new.com. 2001-10-16. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
6. ^ Seymour, Malcolm III. Drukqs review 2001-10-25. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
7. ^ The Daily Swarm—Aphex Twin in SNL "Iran So Far" [rhyme] with Andy Samberg and Adam Levine
8. ^ "Chart Stats - The Aphex Twin - Drukqs". ChartStats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=14226. Retrieved 30 August 2009. 

External links

• Drukqs.net - The official Drukqs Web site: free MP3s and information (Flash-enabled browser required for access).
• Drukqs at Metacritic
• Drukqs at the Warp Records discography
• Drukqs on Discogs