3 out of 5

Label: Rephlex

Produced by: Mike Paradinas, Richard James

(Unofficially referred to as ‘Expert Knob Twiddlers,’ which is how I reference it below)

Nah, you weren’t alone in chasing after this upon release.  Aphex Twin and u-Ziq working together?  Two sides of the IDM coin; two stars and stalwarts of the scene.  It had to be something, even if that something was a mess.

And, nah – lest I project my experience way too much here – you weren’t alone in shelving the release pretty soon after you got it.  I think the last thing we were expecting the release to be… was tepid, and without, really, a single memorable track.

Soon before a re-release with bonus tracks, I find the disc back in my rotation.  Now, it’s not like I’m having a grand reversal of opinion here, but Expert Knob Twiddlers is, still, a lot better than I gave it credit for.  The key, I think, is to forget that this is Mike and Rich – or rather, forget that it’s u-Ziq and Aphex, which is maybe why they used their names in the first place – and treat it like an act you’re hearing for the first time.  And if you can, one step further, set the kitsch of the cover aside; the slightly goofy beats and vocal samples that match that aesthetic are hiding a fair amount of nuance, and some damned amazingly raw and juicy production.  Taken at this value puts the listen at least on the level of all those one-off Rephlex releases over the years – the interesting ideas and sounds that kept you intrigued, even if you understood why the album or artist wasn’t necessarily the breakout star of the year.  And a few more spins reveal our creators’ experience: Paradinas’ playful beats and James’ technological restraint burble up for some pleasantly buoyant songs that fill up the speakers and then sprinkle rich little bits around, if sparingly.  Of course, this combo is what also keeps the album rather middling feeling, as any given track tends to hit that head-bobby vibe and just stick around, but it’s still interesting to pluck out the subtleties for what other beat artists might’ve passed off as simple singles.

There do end up being some moments of note, though toward the album’s latter half. Vodka feels like the closest realization of “Aphex” and “u-Ziq” sounds; its still upbeat but a bit more distant feeling than the remaining album’s fuzzy smiles, the title, perhaps, bringing to mind a swig of something eye-opening.  The sound of beady eye might be the disc’s winner, though, a smooth 7+ minute travel through light IDM and grooving beats that’s a tad slicker and deeper than its songly peers.  Closer bu bu bu ba is silly but a pretty wonderfully chill silly; a good way to go out.

Expert Knob Twiddlers might not’ve been the album we wanted, but im not positive what that would’ve been anyway.  Mike Paradinas and Richard James did as they’ve always done, and tried to funnel their skills through a new avenue.  At times it seems like the artists might actually be restraining either one from taking lead, but the results are still pretty fascinating, given time and the leveling of expectations.