Bleep

Samurai Math Beats first emerged in 1999 via Aphex Twin and Grant Wilson-Claridge’s seminal Rephlex imprint, and the record quickly established itself as a crucial release in both the catalogue of that label and within the story of electronic music more generally. This new pressing of the LP, which represents the first time that Samurai Math Beats has been released on vinyl since its initial run, comes with a 24” x 12” poster.

Raczynski had established himself as one of the most playful and adventurous producers within the IDM and braindance community with the Boku Mo Wakaran LP he released earlier in 1999 (also on Rephlex). On Samurai Math Beats he pushes his sound still further. Here he brings both zaniness and heart to the hyperactive drill ‘n’ bass style which was being espoused by contemporaries like Squarepusher. For instance, the whirlwind of percussion that runs through the album’s classic opener ‘Samurai Masu Bitsu’ may draw heavily from breakcore, but the frenetic beats are softened up by beautifully sweet synths and warm, intimate vocal melodies. In doing so, Raczynski achieves the combination of human emotion and synthetic boundary-pushing that characterises the best electronic music of the period.

This reissue invites fans both new and old to fall in love with Raczynski’s beautifully humane take on Rephlex Records’ braindance sound.