treehouse/content/music/reviews/aphex-twin/syro.tree

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- buy: [Bandcamp](https://aphextwin.bandcamp.com/album/syro)

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- I really like the synth-heavy style in this one

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    - one of my friends said this is probably the most approachable Aphex Twin album of them all, and I think he's right

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+ a really weird thing with Syro is the track names

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    - Aphex Twin is known for track names that are complete gibberish (hello drukQs, except drukQs names are appearently Cornish) but Syro takes it to the next level

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        + even _I_ with my insanely good memory for weird ass names do not remember the full name of my favorite track

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            - that track being _something something_ [141.98] [piezoluminescence mix]

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                - yes, I do remember the BPM though.

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        + but the track names follow a pretty simple scheme: `gibberish [BPM][optional mix]`

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            + I find it pretty cool that he includes the BPM in the track name.

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                - it'll become important later.

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            - I'm not sure what is up with the `[mix]` parts, but let's just go with it. they help me remember the tracks so I'm not complaining :hueh:

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- favorite tracks

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    + #### syro u473t8+e \[141.98][piezoluminescence mix]

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        - the choppy, chiptune-like synths make for a really cool vibe

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        + and [piezoluminescence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoluminescence) is apparently a real phenomenon, iirc occurring when you strike quartz crystals with force, and this track does indeed feel like that.

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            + think I first heard about it in a [Steve Mould](https://www.youtube.com/@SteveMould) video but I don't remember which one. maybe [the one about piezoelectricity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcJXA8IqYl8)?

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                - but that's a different phenomenon, so probably not that one. I may be misremembering.

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    + #### CIRCLONT14 \[152.97][shrymoming mix]

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        - starts out a little dissonant, but builds up into some really nice chords and has a real bop of a drum track.

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        - the vocal samples too make for a pretty soft composition

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            - although knowing Richard's other works I am scared to look up what the vocal sample says

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    + #### s950tx16wasr10 \[163.97][earth portal mix]

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        - I love the bell-like sounds fed through a grain delay. gives it some really nice crystalline texture

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        + features the [Lyn Collins - Think](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKix_06L5AY) break, which never gets old

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            - the only break which never gets older-er is the Amen Break, but both are equally legendary

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- 141.98 BPM

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    - there are two tracks on Syro whose tempo is 141.98 BPM: _CIRCLONT6A \[141.98][syrobonkus mix]_, and _syro u473t8+e \[141.98][piezoluminescence mix]_

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        - if you listen closely, there is a common leitmotif across these tracks:

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            - [in CIRCLONT6A \[141.98\]\[syrobonkus mix\]](https://youtu.be/kYCEpD_r76g?t=120) at 2:00

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            - [in syro u473t8+e \[141.98\]\[piezoluminescence mix\]](https://youtu.be/CsJpvDPH2aA?t=226) at 3:46

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        - there's also a shared vocal sample at the beginning (at 0:18 in syrobonkus, at 0:00 in piezoluminescence)

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            - but I don't speak Russian so I don't understand what she's saying (at least I think it's Russian? correct me if I'm wrong)

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- I think I managed to nail down how Syro track names came to be.

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    - I can't find the exact video that made me realize this, but in _some_ video on YouTube _someone_ was using a step sequencer, and it prompted them to enter a track name.

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        - given how these sequencer interfaces are pretty cumbersome to type on (given they're mostly controlled with knobs and buttons whose layout _distinctly_ does not resemble a computer keyboard), they just decided to just change out a number at the end

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            - and that's my theory: that's what happened with Syro

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                - you can kind of confirm this by looking at `CIRCLONT6A` and `CIRCLONT14`, as well as Aphex Twin's Cheetah EP which features `CHEETAHT2`, `CHEETAHT7b`, `CHEETA1b`, `CHEETA2`, `CIRKLON3`, and `CIRKLON 1`. following this _exact_ this naming scheme.

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                - but that's just a theory. A MUSIC THEORY