An utterly essential piece of electronic history, constantly referenced and revered two decades after its release. Following the glacial synths and deft percussion of Selected Ambient Works 85-92, Aphex Twin crafted Selected Ambient Works Volume II, a mammoth double-CD set of beatless vistas, textured compositions that are at turns beautiful, nightmarish, emotive and thrilling. From swooning beauty to careening dread, even in the first two tracks, it's a vibrant, stellar piece of work. Repeated listens uncover layers upon layers of beauty and meaning in this vision of perfection that everyone simply must own.
This version doesn't contain the "missing track 19".