Aphex Twin

Selected Ambient Works, Volume II

First released1994

Selected Ambient Works Volume II was recorded by Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) primarily between 1993 and 1994, with the album released in 1994 on Warp Records. James recorded the album using a combination of analog synthesizers, drum machines, and tape-based techniques, working in various studios and home recording setups rather than a single dedicated facility. The production marked a significant shift toward darker, more abstract ambient soundscapes compared to the first volume, featuring heavily processed and often unmelodic textures. James employed unconventional recording methods including tape manipulation, reversed audio, and heavily layered synthesis to create the album's distinctive ethereal and sometimes unsettling atmosphere. The album was largely self-produced by James and stands as a landmark release in ambient and experimental electronic music of the 1990s.