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Drukqs

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Untitled

drukqs (sometimes spelled drukQs) is a 2001 double album by Richard D. James, released under his most frequently used artistic name, Aphex Twin.

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". 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 for 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 misinformation 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. Thirdly, a 250 gram limited edition audiophile version is available, pressed on heavy virgin (unrecycled) vinyl by Record Technology Incorporated and presented in a 12" × 17" box limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies.

The short film Rubber Johnny utilized an extended version of "afx237 v7" and "gwarek2" as its background score.

"Jynweythek Ylow" and "Avril 14th" were featured in Sofia Coppola's 2006 film Marie Antoinette.

"Omgyjya-Switch7" is featured in the 2006 film Children of Men.

"Nanou2" plays towards the end of the Shane Meadows film Dead Man's Shoes

"Avril 14th" was sampled in a digital short on a Saturday Night Live episode that aired on September 29th, 2007.

Track listing

Drukqs comprises 30 tracks, divided into two discs on the CD release (15 songs on each disc) and onto 8 sides on the quadruple vinyl release. Sides A through D are intended to be played at 45 rpm, while sides E through H are meant to be played at 33⅓ rpm (although many fans find pleasure in listening to the songs sped up or slowed down). The vinyl editions of this album feature a slightly re-arranged track list.

Several of the tracks have slightly different spellings on the vinyl release, while "QKThr" is given the name "Penty Harmonium" on vinyl.

CD track configuration

Disc one

  1. "Jynweythek" – 2:14
  2. "Vordhosbn" – 4:42
  3. "Kladfvgbung Micshk" – 2:00
  4. "Omgyjya-Switch7" – 4:46
  5. "Strothatynhe" – 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 Adhagrow" – 2:09
  15. "Kesson Dalef" – 1:18

Disc two

  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

Vinyl track configuration

Side one (45 rpm)

  1. "Jynweythek Ylow" – 2:14
  2. "Vordhosbn" – 4:42
  3. "Kladfvgbung Micshk" – 2:00
  4. "Strotha Tynhe" – 2:03

Side two (45 rpm)

  1. "Omgyjya Switch7" – 4:46
  2. "Gwely Mernans" – 5:00

Side three (45 rpm)

  1. "Cock/Ver10" – 5:17
  2. "Bbydhyonchord" – 2:21
  3. "Orban Eq Trx4" – 1:27

Side four (45 rpm)

  1. "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount" – 8:02
  2. "Beskhu3epnm" – 1:58

Side five (33⅓ rpm)

  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

Side six (33⅓ rpm)

  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

Side seven (33⅓ rpm)

  1. "Meltphace 6" – 6:14
  2. "Bit 4" – 0:18
  3. "Taking Control" – 7:08
  4. "Ruglen Holon" – 1:45

Side eight (33⅓ rpm)

  1. "Afx237 v7" – 4:15
  2. "Ziggomatic v17" – 8:28
  3. "Nanou2" – 3:22


Various titles are in Cornish, a Celtic language related to Gaelic Welsh and Breton spoken in Cornwall, James' home. James said he "went back to his roots" in Cornwall, or "Kernow" as it is known in Cornish. Translations include "Jynweythek [Ylow]" for "Electronic Machine [Music]", "Vordhosbn" would mean "Sailboat", and "Cymru" would mean "Wales". Comically, "hy a Scullyas lyf a dhagrow" would roughly translate as "She wasted my pint" (colloquially, "She spilled my pint"[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 [2], [3] + Saint Michaels mount [4], [5]" is named after two actual places, Mont Saint-Michel and St Michael's Mount, which are related to each other; the latter is a famous tourist attraction in Cornwall.

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 which 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 pioneered by John Cage) and normal piano. The instrument used was a MIDI-controlled Yamaha Disklavier which James programmed to play via 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.

A few tracks feature short samples (synthesizer experiments, voices, etc.) under 20 seconds in length. "54 Cymru Beats" features sounds sampled from "[equation]" 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".

Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
U.S. Top Heatseekers 2
U.S. Top Electronic Albums 6
U.S. Billboard 200 154
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