dmi_nikulin_03

Of course, I can't like every song in this album, as ambience in certain songs is not as captivating and charming (#16, #22 or #4, for example). Yet the highlights of this album (#3, #19 or #20) might be the best ambient songs for Aphex, if not in entire ambient genre. This album brings a lot of feelings - mystery, desperation, hope, woe etc.

However, my personal highlight is the ending, Rhubarb Orc. 19.53 Rev. For me it brings hope at any time and any mood, whether I'm on cloud ... read more

EDIT: score changed from 60 to 62 based on the individual song ratings.

As a whole, this album feels very disorganized. The pacing is all over the place - first it's a short piano song, then it's a 10 second interlude with some noise, then it's a really fast and chaotic IDM song. Personally, I would separate this album in a few parts: one for pianos, one for IDM songs, one for experimental sounds (like Bit 4).

It's easier for me to evaluate songs in this album ... read more

One comment on "Xtal" said: "The 21st century has started in 1992". And I wholeheartedly agree with it.

It's not just "Xtal", it's the entire album that feels and sounds ethereal, uplifting and, most importantly, eternal. I cannot imagine how incredible it felt to listen it in 1992, let alone in 2025. As if this music was produced at not a very far future.

An amazing start of a career for an amazing producer.

Edit: score change from 86 to 88

I think that this is magnum opus for this band. Even though I love their more recent album "False Light" a bit more, I believe that this album contains songs that define what White Ward are.

The main thing is that this album captures the dread, anxiety and tiredom you might get in a big city or megapolis. These emotions are let out already in the first song "Love Exchange Failure", as the vocalist screams and the instrument just go nuts. ... read more