I don’t think the sound quality of the OP’s video does the set justice. I’m going to see him in Manchester on Friday and am really looking forward to it, especially given the people supporting.
I’ve seen him a few times “live” (I use inverted commas because his sets are usually really neither live or DJ’ed but a real mash of both) and it’s always an event. His sets always seem really well thought out and he has a real mastery of the kit he’s using, an almost unmatched mastery.
For me, his best set that I’ve seen was at Bangface 2012 near Newquay. He wasn’t playing much at the time and his a/v setup there was a slightly more raw version of what he does now and it blew my mind completely. I think it was helped by the dancefloor being a big board on top of a swimming pool…bouncy…
As a person who owns a Cirklon, and loved the output of Syro, I can attest there’s something about that machine that lends itself to that approach. the Cirklon has features like conditional trigs, but across tracks. so if track A is playing the note A, I can choose 50% of the time from track B to play whatever track A is playing and then conditionally render that note as something else.(a chord maybe…). These are the kind of features that allow the arrangements to change on a fly but everything is still in step with itself. The Cirklon is amazing, what Richard D. James does with it, is a “whole 'nother level.”
the problem with the Cirklon though, as you mentioned, is when you are working with a song, you kinda have to keep everything the way it is. you can’t just switch some willy-nilly, every track expects your synths to be configured a specific way, etc.
(edit: why does no one mention the other human?..)
I think that’s his wife.
i think thats the aphex twins twins twin
Well, that was his choice of mo. I don’t really care how a piece of music was made… i mean, you can make a eurodance track with supercollider and csound but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a eurodance track.
I like syro a lot, but it’s only a collection of refined aphex style tracks = refinement of a known thing. I’d like to hear more of a something unknown from him, that’s all. Or not! I have a few others to listen to for that. So no biggie, really!
Not my video, the quality’s ok and there’s a couple of copyright related silences but it gets across the madness that happened on Friday night in Manchester. I’ve seen aphex several times but that was absolutely mental. The lights and lasers were insane, I lost my shit completely a number of times, as did everyone around me.
As a side note, I think the Depot in Manchester might be my new favourite venue.
The whole Manchester set was just uploaded, officially. Really great quality recording and awesome audio visual experience. Check it out
opinion: if it would be me , being responsible for the music , the audience would a) simply leave b) drown me in beer cups c) ask themselves what is going on…
I do like the studio work of aphex twin, from the beginning…
But skipping through the concerts is just boaring and a bit like me, trying to get squeeze something out of some instruments while I am in an all time low creative phase…
Skimming it on youtube is not the intended way to experience a set like that though, is it 
I was at the Manchester gig and I can confirm it was anything but boring.
But what to do if nothing catches the interest…
I really tried to like that as I like his music a lot.
Guess I continue listening to his albums… That is a good experience.
Yes exactly. If the live set doesn’t work for you listening at home, don’t listen to it. But don’t complain about it if it works for the crowd who paid to see it in the intended setting and enjoyed it live.
i watched the live stream with friends, i thought it was awesome.
iI’ve heard much better stuff here on Elektronauts. It had its time but now seems kids reliving the rave scene. Visuals arent enough. Ask Jean Michel Jarre he will say the same. Some music doesnt date well.
You should definitely link.
That wasn’t our experience in Manchester. I don’t feel like anyone was reliving anything. With acts playing like 33EMYBW and Lee Gamble, as well as Aphex himself I don’t feel like anyone was looking backwards. The venue was fricking amazing too.
I guess if I was just watching this on YouTube without the supporting acts warming me up and without the vibe and excitement of being in a crowd full of equally excitable mugs I’d probably be a bit more meh about it myself.
I’ve seen Aphex a bunch of times and, for me, he remains the high watermark in both recorded electronic music and live* performance.
*I understand that by live, I am essentially talking about a souped up DJ set most of the time, but he puts in one hell of a souped up DJ set.