Aphex Twin

Analogue Bubblebath is a relatively weak creation from Richard D. James, operating here under his AFX alias. With two songs reminiscent of his Caustic Window style and two songs leaning toward traditional dance fodder, there's not much variation on display. The title song is sprightly and light with bubbly sound effects and ambient beeps that suggest the tune was recorded in a lost underwater city. It's a nice arrangement with a driving Kraftwerk feel. "Isopropophlex" and "AFX 2" recall James' harsh Caustic Window designs. One imagines machines fighting an analog synth battle. "Isopropophlex" layers the aggression over a somewhat monotonous loop worthy of a haunted house in creating a mildly interesting cacophony. "AFX 2" presents its industrial growls over what sounds more like Aphex Twin's ambient excursions. "Entrance to Exit" is the real surprise, though it's not a particularly pleasant one. The song sees James crafting an average rave song full of screaming fire-alarm sounds and overly busy samples. Analogue Bubblebath is titled properly. Like a bubble bath, its joys are short-lived and quite soggy over an extended length of time. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide