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Written by Jessica Gluckman Thursday, 20 April 2006 11:07

While rabid Aphex Twin collectors may be mourning money spent hunting down singles and white-labels, other fans, especially those disappointed by 2001’s drukqs, will find plenty to be pleased with.

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Years ago, Aphex Twin was approached by a record company and asked to remix a song by ’90s pop-punk band the Lemonheads. Weeks later, a courier arrived at his door to pick up the DAT, but Aphex Twin had completely forgotten to do the remix. In fact, he never listened to the source tape! But the courier was waiting, so he grabbed the nearest random tape and passed it off as the remix. He got $5,000 and the Lemonheads shelved the “remix.”

If this tale doesn’t lend valuable insight into Richard D. James (better known as Aphex Twin) and his attitude toward remixing, then consider this two-disc compilation. Nowhere in the liner notes will you read something like “These are artists I enjoy and it was a privilege to work with their material!” As the title says, these were about the money.

26 Mixes for Cash sounds more like an Aphex Twin album that samples other artists to varying degrees. Aphex Twin’s opinion of the original determines what stays and what goes; he prefers the word “fixing” to “mixing.” He liked Seefeel’s “Time to Find Me” enough to allow the band’s distinct sound to move with few obstacles through his percussion. Nobukazu Takemura’s “Let My Fish Loose” retains the lush innocence of its acoustic instruments and child vocals. Conversely, is there one note of Jesus Jones’ “Zeros and Ones” in the ambient “reconstruction?” Both Nine Inch Nails–related pieces are 100% Reznor-free (debate rages on over whether or not this is a good thing; I say it is).
Other standout material on this collection includes James’ own remix of SAW2 CD1 TRK2, the haunting splice job of Curve’s “Falling Free,” and his lounge-exotica version of Gentle People’s “Journey.” While rabid Aphex Twin collectors may be mourning money spent hunting down singles and white-labels, other fans, especially those disappointed by 2001’s drukqs, will find plenty to be pleased with.

P.S.: The Lemonheads remix wasn’t included.