Here we go with Part 2. Just so you know, I don't like to do transcodes but, in the case of several of these tracks, it was quite necessary. This was mostly due to damaged files or slight improvements on the quality of the existing sources. Everything I had an original copy or lossless rip of was used over MP3s, but some things just don't exist in higher quality, at least not to the public.
Aphex Twin - Rare Stuff: Disc 2
01 Polygon Window - My Teapot
This is Richard's contribution to Warp's Artificial Intelligence II compilation. Not really rare, but I've found a lot of people who had no idea it existed, so I'm posting it. On a related note, on the first Artificial Intelligence comp, Richard's contribution was credited to The Dice Man. It is the only track where he used that pseudonym because, unbeknownst to him at the time, Colin James of Meat Beat Manifesto was using that name. Polygon Window was his next choice.
02 Caustic Window - Cunt
03 Caustic Window - Phlaps
Both of these tracks are from the unreleased Caustic Window album. Not to be confused with the Caustic Window compilation which features most of the material released via EPs on Rephlex, this would have been a completely original album. Apparently test pressings were made and shared with friends, including Mike Paradinas. He is most likely the source of the info we know about it. Based off these tracks, I wish the album would have come out. Both of these were released on compilations which you can read about here and here.
04 Mike & Rich - Brivert and Muons
This is a leftover from the Mike & Rich album, Expert Knob Twiddlers, which was a goofy collaboration between Richard and Mike Paradinas, better known as µ-Ziq and the founder of Planet Mu Records. This was available as a free download a LONG time ago, and that's the source of this recording. If you go digging into the Mike & Rich album, prepare for oddball weirdness galore!
05 AFX - Bummy
This track was exclusive to the Mealtime compilation which was released on Planet Mu. It sounds like it was recorded around the same time as the Richard D. James Album.
06 Equation (Demo, Live On Ultrasound)
This one needs some explaining. Back in 1997, Richard appeared on the American radio program Ultrasound. He was interviewed and they played stuff from the Richard D. James Album, but they also played an early version of this then-unreleased track. Some of the interview is attached to the end of the track and Richard mentions that it's crappy and probably won't ever come out. This led to the track generally being referred to as Crappy, but it is indeed an early version of the Equation track from the Windowlicker single.
07 Squarepusher/AFX - Freeman Hardy & Willis Acid
Unlike the Mike & Rich project, this track is completely serious. This appeared on the Warp Records compilation, We Are Reasonable People, which was an album length release with a single's release code to celebrate Warp's 100th single release. This will be appearing on the forthcoming Warp20 box, but it's the same track. It's also the only released collaboration between Richard and Tom Jenkinson, aka Squarepusher. Supposedly there are a few more tracks stored on a DAT somewhere, but who knows. If I had to guess, Richard did the music and some editing while Tom did the beats. Really, REALLY good track!
08 Windowlicker (Original Demo)
Like the Equation demo, this is a simplified version of the main beat from Windowlicker. If my memory serves me correctly, this initially leaked on a bootleg 7" somehow related to Luke Vibert. Most people dismissed it as fake, but then Windowlicker came out and everyone was proved wrong. This was later issued as a one-sided 12" and as a CD single with the video for Windowlicker on it.
09 Windowlicker (Demo Version)
I know it's confusing, but it's important you know this is NOT the demo of Windowlicker. Hell, I don't think this is even the same song. This was released on the Japanese edition of the Windowlicker single and has sometimes been referred to as a Special Edit, but you'd be hard pressed to find any similarities between this, the original demo or the finished track. Very strange.
10 AFX - 46 Analord-Masplid
11 AFX - Naks 11 (Mono)
These tracks were issued on a split 12" with LFO in 2005. They are somehow related to a version of the game Wipeout that was issued exclusively on the PSP. I guess these are also leftovers from the Analord series, but how much you wanna bet there are a ton of those lying around Richard's home, or tank, or bank, or whatever. Oh yeah, he doesn't own the bank anymore, one less place to wonder about!
12 DJ Pierre - Box Energy (4 Remix 1)
This remix if very similar to the one on the 2 Remixes By AFX single, but this is longer and a little more out there. It was released as a free download from Rephlex during the Analord campaign.
13 Wagon Christ - Sci-Fi Staircase (Tahnaiya Russell Remix)
As the story goes, there was a competition for people to create a remix of this Wagon Christ tune. Richard, under the above pseudonym, secretly entered this mix and won the competition. Not trying to steal the prizes from someone more deserving as he didn't need them, they were given to the runner up, but Richard's mix is the one everyone remembers. Totally bonkers!
Come back tomorrow for Melodies From Mars!
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