Caustic Window (album)

Caustic Window is an album by Richard D. James under the alias Caustic Window.[1] Originally planned for release in 1996, only a few test pressings were produced. One of the copies, which surfaced for sale on Discogs in 2014, was bought and digitally distributed through a Kickstarter campaign. It was eventually sold on eBay for $46,300.

Caustic Window
Studio album by
Caustic Window
Released1996 (1996)
Recorded1992–94
GenreIDM, acid house, acid techno, ambient techno
Length69:25
LabelRephlex
ProducerRichard D. James
Richard D. James chronology
Hangable Auto Bulb
(1995)		 Caustic Window
(1996)		 Expert Knob Twiddlers
(1996)

Background

Although 2 of the tracks ("Phlaps" and "Cunt") appeared on compilations in the 1990s and one of the songs ("Mumbly") had its chord progression reused for track 6 of Analogue Bubblebath Vol 3, the actual Caustic Window album's release was canceled. At least five copies were pressed in 1994. At least one copy was sold through the Record & Tape Exchange in Camden in the late 1990s.[2] One of the copies surfaced on Discogs in 2014, with a price of $13,500.[3] In response, We Are the Music Makers, an electronic music forum, negotiated with Rephlex Records and initiated a Kickstarter project, in which backers received a digital copy of the album.[4] More than $47,000 was raised.[5]

After the Kickstarter campaign, the copy was sold on an eBay auction. Money raised from the sale was split evenly between the Kickstarter contributors, Richard D. James and Doctors Without Borders.[6] The copy was bought by Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of Minecraft, for $46,300.[7][8]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Consequence of SoundC+[9]
Pitchfork(8.1/10)[10]

Mark Richardson of Pitchfork named Caustic Window the week's "best new reissue", and wrote: "Caustic Window LP probably wouldn’t have left a significant mark, and would have been heard as second-tier James. Twenty years later, though, we’re hearing it with that aura, that extra bit of longing that comes from how scarce music from James has become. And in that light, second tier is still very good indeed."[10] Derek Staples of Consequence of Sound wrote that "the greatest gems within this collection highlight James’ foresight into electronic dance music", with "early examples of now trending tech-house ... This release might not have lived up to the lofty standards of the label, yet it remains relevant in a community of constant transition."[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Flutey"8:20
2."Stomper 101mod Detunekik"7:26
3."Mumbly"5:31
4."Popeye"1:19
5."Fingertrips"4:17
6."Revpok"3:43
7."AFX Tribal Kik"1:06
8."Airflow"5:06
9."Squidge in the Fridge"4:09
10."Fingry"4:51
11."Jazzphase"4:23
12."101 Rainbows Ambient Mix"8:52
13."Phlaps"3:50
14."Cunt"4:16
15."Phone Pranks"2:16
gollark: YeS
gollark: SOLD IN CHORUS CITY AT REASONABLE PRICES™tm™
gollark: I have maybe 256.
gollark: And the numbers are generated pretty inefficiently, so increasing it much would make the uninstaller slow.
gollark: Interestingly enough, you see, the CPU time required to factor a number like that is roughly proportional to the *square root* of it.

References
  1. Gibsone, Harriet (12 May 2014). "Fan led Aphex Twin Kickstarter campaign raises $67,424". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-08-10 – via www.theguardian.com.
  2. Martin, Piers (19 September 2014). "Aphex Twin: 'His music is a perfect mix of mystery and adrenaline'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. Gordon, Jeremy (9 April 2014). "Aphex Twin Unreleased Album Caustic Window to Be Sold Digitally on Kickstarter, Physically on eBay". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. "Aphex Twin's unreleased Caustic Window album is now available digitally through Kickstarter". Fact. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  5. "Kickstarter campaign to buy lost Aphex Twin album surpasses $40,000 (£24,000) mark". NME. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  6. "Physical copy of Aphex Twin's 'Caustic Window' raises over £27,000 on eBay". NME. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  7. Blinstein, Jon (24 June 2014). "'Minecraft' Creator Buys Rare Aphex Twin Vinyl for $46,300". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  8. Minsker, Evan (23 June 2014). "Aphex Twin's Caustic Window Test Pressing Picks Up $46,300 on eBay". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  9. "Album Review: Aphex Twin – Caustic Window". Consequence of Sound. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  10. Richardson, Mark (30 June 2014). "Caustic Window - Caustic Window LP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
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