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Mike & Rich - Expert Knob Twiddlers flac album

Mike and Rich Downtempo IDM Experimental Ambient 1996 UK

Performer Mike & Rich
Title Expert Knob Twiddlers
Date of release 1996
Country UK
Style Downtempo, IDM, Experimental, Ambient
Other formats DTS ADX ASF AA MMF MPC ASF
Genre Electronic / Jazz
Size MP3 1815 mb
Size FLAC 1336 mb
Rating: 4.3
Votes: 665

Expert Knob Twiddlers is a 1996 studio album by Mike Paradinas and Richard D. James. On 14 July 2016, Planet Mu announced that a reissued version would be released with seven bonus tracks in September 2016. Mike Paradinas described the sound of the album as "an updated version of easy listening and funk". James had heard the music Paradinas had made under the name of Jake Slazenger and invited him to create tracks.

Mike & Rich’s 'Expert Knob Twiddlers' was made back in 1994. This text is not an instance of retrofitting; 'Expert Knob Twiddlers' was the title upon the original release in 1996. The cover of the Japanese CD version and the catalogue summaries included inside Caustic Window "Compilation" and The Braindance Coincidence list this release by the artist name only.

Expert Knob Twiddlers is a 1996 studio album by Mike Paradinas and Richard D.

Expert Knob Twiddlers was described by Paradinas in a 1997 interview (to paraphrase) as not being particularly important to him; he’d rather have a second pass, he said, at another Mike and Rich album.

So you might consider Expert Knob Twiddlers to be James’ version of Quiet Nights. In every gesture, it feels tied to the mid-’90s, offering Mike and Rich’s version of the Gen X nostalgia that was everywhere at the time. Just look at that album cover. Many of these tracks either sample from or are the creators’ versions of ephemera like ’60s spy film soundtracks, easy listening records, off-kilter funk, advertising jingles, and the like-a jumble of kitschy loops that could have come from Keyboard Money Mark, Sukia, or any number of lesser artists making music in that decade with cheap gear and samples.

Expert Knob Twiddlers, released 20 years ago on Rephlex and reissued this month on Planet Mu, is the product of alcohol-fueled jam sessions, in which the two artists bounced off each other over arrangements that pop and resettle like some sort of psychedelic snowglobe. Aside from it being an Aphex Twin and µ-Ziq collaboration, this record's spirit of fun has afforded it a cult status. The tracklist is tweaked to make room for the additional tracks. Vodka (Mix 2)" and "Jelly Fish (Mix 2)" are the new standouts, but it's cuts from the vaults, like "Portamento Gosh" and "Clissold Bathroom," that quietly complete the album.

Tracklist

1	Mr Frosty	6:51
2	Jelly Fish	6:30
3	Eggy Toast	4:07
4	Reg	5:57
5	Vodka	4:12
6	Winner Takes All	5:44
7	Giant Deflating Football	6:22
8	Upright Kangaroo	3:31
9	The Sound Of Beady Eyes	7:46
10	Bu Bu Bu Ba	6:51

Companies, etc.

Distributed By – RTM
Distributed By – EFA – CD 26 21275
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Rephlex
Copyright (c) – Rephlex
Published By – Chrysalis Music
Glass Mastered At – PDO, UK – 10420191

Credits

Cover – Johnny Clayton, Richard James*
Performer [Everything By] – Micheal Paradinis*, Richard James*

Notes

The cover is a parody of the box cover of "Downfall", a board game by Milton Bradley.

Fans of the album, record stores, and Planet Mu's official site state that the title of this release is "Expert Knob Twiddlers". The Planet Mu site says : "… Mike & Rich’s 'Expert Knob Twiddlers' was made back in 1994. Richard edited the tracks into shape later in 1996 with his new Apple Mac computer and it was released later that year on Rephlex …". This text is not an instance of retrofitting; 'Expert Knob Twiddlers' was the title upon the original release in 1996. The cover of the Japanese CD version and the catalogue summaries included inside Caustic Window "Compilation" and The Braindance Coincidence list this release by the artist name only.

℗&© 1996 rephlex.
Made in England.

Category appears as "cat 027cd" on spine, back, in fold out insert and on disk (big text).
Category appears as "cat 027lp" on disk (small text).

Issued in a jewel case with clear tray and an 8 page fold-out insert.
EFA distribution code on sticker (rear).

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Barcode: 5 027238 002724
Matrix / Runout: CAT027CD 10420191 01 % MADE IN U.K. BY PDO
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L132
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 0485
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 0466

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
cat 027cd	Mike & Rich	Expert Knob Twiddlers ‎(CD, Album, Promo)	Rephlex	cat 027cd	UK	1996
ziq369lp	Mike & Rich	Expert Knob Twiddlers ‎(3xLP, Album, RE, RM)	Planet Mu	ziq369lp	Europe	2016
cat 027cd	Mike & Rich	Expert Knob Twiddlers ‎(CD, Album, RE)	Rephlex	cat 027cd	UK	Unknown
ziq369cd, AMIP-0089	Mike & Rich	Expert Knob Twiddlers ‎(2xCD, Album, RE, RM + File, WAV)	Planet Mu, Planet Mu	ziq369cd, AMIP-0089	Japan	2016
CHCU-010	Mike & Rich	...Expert Knob Twiddlers ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial)	Chronica Cubica	CHCU-010	Europe	2007

Talk about Mike & Rich - Expert Knob Twiddlers

Dangerous

Mr Frosty makes you more addicted to it the more you play it.

Rleyistr

I didn't like this. I bought it off a beach vendor on Brighton seafront for a tenner in the early 00's, I kind of felt bad because he clearly didn't know it was going for 3 times as much on ebay back then. However as I didn't like it I actually went into Rounder Records in Brighton and asked them if they'd swap it for the copy of The Advent - Elements of Life which they had going for £30 and had been there for at least a year, they did a quick ebay search and agreed! So yeah I didn't like this one :)

Nahn

There's a 2016 reissue imminent!! http://planet.mu/releases/expert-knob-twiddlers/ (includes seven new tracks as well!!)

Anarus

A album that was underwhelming to some at the time but is now a Rephlex classic. A+ on the artwork, also.

Nuadora

I agree. When this came out back in 96, it wasn't anything close to what I expected, considering that I'd been listening to all of their solo material, which really didn't sound much like anything on this little gem at all. I listened to the hell out of it regardless and anticipate the expanded re-release coming up in a few months! :)

Unirtay

Mike Paradinas and Richard D. James.this is a great production.one of my favorites.

Golden freddi

This album definitely is named *Expert knob twiddlers*.

Ucantia

It's okay for the time it was made, but it's definitely less than what you would expect from two major IDM producers.

Pruster

Not the best work either of these guys have done, but I think we can all agree that this is the greatest album cover ever.

Yozshunris

For all who expected something "more sophisticated" because Mike & Rich are stand-out musicians in this field, keep in mind, that the record was made in 3 days on drugs in 1993 (as Mike once mentioned it took three years for the release). On that framework the record is still brilliant and one of the funniest electronic music records ever. I can hardly have such a laugh with any other record.

Weernis

Another track, 'Brivert and Muons', never made the finished album. Runs to 6:23 and is a clashy, noisy little number that probably never made it because it's not on par with the rest of the LP.

Wenaiand

For this album, Aphex and mu-ziq cheese it up and make some pretty groovy and bizarre tracks. I heard that Mike & Rich made this album in a weekend, tripping on some psychedelics (acid or shrooms, but who knows). Could be BS, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. I'd say the best time to listen to this album for the first time would be while on acid or shrooms. "Mr. Frosty" and "Upright Kangaroo" are the real standouts for me. Mr Frosty makes a great opener. Very funky, and one of the most listenable songs on the album. Upright Kangaroo includes belching sounds in its melody. It makes sense though, in this surreal aesthetic they've created for themselves.

Pemand

What a great album! If you are truly a fan of Mike Paradinas and Richard D James then this is a must for you. It has the seriousness that Richard puts forth in his music and Mike's bouncy beats that makes this album one of my all time favorite albums of all time.

Atineda

In truth while this album veers from the awful to the ordinary its not one which will get many listens beyond the first, except the final track, which is an awesome piece of loungecore, one of the best aphex tracks and rather buried away .

Kanal

An album where they both turned the fun up to maximum. Sounds nothing like their other works, a jazzy, squelchy, and rather organic album. Reminds me quite a bit of Mouse on Mars' later sound, while still holding to a classic IDM base ala I Care Because You Do. A great, balanced album.

Snowskin

This album is really funny. In it you can found some of the more interesting moments of both great musicians. It is a real collaboration. Doesn't sound like any other Richard D. James or Mike Paradinas record. Those two big experimentalist join they forces in a direction not very usual in any of them when they work alone. That direction is the "downtempo/jazzy experiments" that "Sand_Leaper" points. Rather than "weak and uninspired", I found it funny and curious. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I really enjoy each time I listen it. Histroy of music is full of better things that "Expert Knob Twiddlers", but not always I want to listen a masterpiece.

Anicasalar

Quite disappointed with this. With heavyweights like these twiddling the knobs, I expected something with a lot more bite and edge to it. Instead, you get a collection of downtempo/jazzy experiments that just sound so weak and uninspired that I reach for the skip button after a few minutes.

A must for all Mike Paradenas and AFX fans. Leans towards the silly but there are some fantastic grooves to be found within.

Rigiot

Mike is Mike Paradinas (Mu-ziq) Rich is Richard D. James (Aphex Twin). Together they're awesome. On some tracks they build on old rock-n-roll samples, constructing a big layered groove. I have a theory: Mike controls the right speaker/channel, Richard controls the left, they work together on some parts. This album is amazing, you can clearly hear the two artists' minds fusing together. And its all pretty fun and lighthearted!

Uyehuguita

I was told this album took 3-and-a-half days to record... hmmmm. However long it took, it certainly sounds like they had fun recording it. A mixup of styles, all cobbled together into wonderfully-joyful sounds. No chin-stroking in sight. Superb cover too, featuring the duo playing Donfall on a mock-up of the old MB Games boxes. Superb.

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