Warp to host listening party for Aphex Twin’s ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition)’
Taking over the Tate Modern's Blavatnik Building, the free event will coincide with the recent re-release of the seminal 1994 album
Warp Records has announced that it will host a listening party for Aphex Twin’s ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition)’ at the Tate Modern.
Taking place on October 25, from 6:PM to 9:30:PM at the gallery’s Blavatnik Building, the free event will coincide with the artist’s recent celebratory re-reissue of his seminal 1994 album, 'Selected Ambient Works Volume II’ — marking 30 years since the original.
The listening party will be a part of Tate Modern Lates, a special evening of music exploring Mire Lee’s 'Hyundai Commission', the latest installation to take over the iconic Turbine Hall. Other DJ sets programmed by Global Roots are set to take place, with line-ups revealed shortly.
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The expanded edition – out via Warp Records on October 4 – makes every track on the album available in all formats for the first time, by including ‘#19’, a song previously only present on the vinyl version. It also contains two unreleased tracks ‘th1 [evnslower]’ and ‘Rhubarb Orc. 19.53 Rev’.
The full, extended re-issue is now available digitally, as well as on a three-disc CD, a two-pack cassette, and a four-LP box set (which includes a fold-out poster, sticker sheet, and booklet containing sketches for the original artwork by designer Paul Nicholson).
An early example of IDM (intelligent dance music), ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II’ has remained one of Aphex Twin’s most influential and masterful pieces of work, regularly popping up on Best Album Ever lists and entering the Dance Albums Chart at number one in 1994.
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When announcing the album’s re-release on September 4, Warp Records revealed there would be a number of album listening sessions, with locations yet to be determined. Aside from the forthcoming event at the Tate, fans can sign up for email announcements on other celebratory events taking place around the world here.
The 30th anniversary of ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II' comes after a busy 2023 for Aphex Twin, with the artist releasing his first solo EP in five years, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760', performing live for the first time in four years at London’s Field Day festival, and launching a free augmented reality app.
Other forthcoming electronic events taking place at the Tate Modern include a DJ set from Midland the following night.
Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram