Analord


Analord is a series of eleven 12" vinyl records released in 2005 by UK-based electronic music artist Richard D. James, primarily under the alias AFX. The series marked James's return to primarily analogue equipment following his computer-oriented programming work in the late 1990s. After their release, James "distilled" the 3½ hour, 42-track series into the 10-track compilation album Chosen Lords, effectively his first full-length release since the 2001 album Drukqs.
On 24 December 2009, the Rephlex Records website began posting unreleased/bonus tracks for the Analord series in MP3 and WAV digital formats. In all, 21 bonus tracks were added to the series, totalling 62 tracks for a runtime of 4 hours and 36 minutes.

History

The first installment, Analord 10, went on sale through the Rephlex Records website on 15 December 2004, and was packaged in a faux-leather binder with sleeves for housing the rest of the series. It was later re-released as a picture disc. Both pressings of Analord 10 were marketed under James' primary alias Aphex Twin, although other Analord recordings were released under the AFX pseudonym.
A condensed, album-length version of the series, Chosen Lords was released in 2006.

Musical equipment used

James has programmed a variety of analogue equipment throughout his career. Instruments on Analord include drum machines such as the Roland TR-606, TR-808, and TR-909; sequencers such as the Roland MC-4; and various synthesizers and polysynths, including the Roland SH-101 and Roland TB-303, a Synton Fenix Modular

Etymology

The name refers to the analogue and digital electronic music equipment James used to perform much of Analord, as well as being a double entendre. Since James has a penchant for anagrams, it is noteworthy that "Analord" is an anagram for "A Roland", perhaps referencing a well-known manufacturer of analogue synthesizers. It has also been speculated that the term "Analord" is a portmanteau of the words analogue and lord, referring to Richard James' previous analogue programming, and the talent and recognition he has in his industry. "Analord" is also the title of a Luke Vibert track from Lover's Acid on Planet Mu.

Allusions

Analord 1

Released 24 January 2005.

Analord 2

Released 24 January 2005.

Analord 3

Released 21 February 2005.

Analord 4

Released 21 February 2005.

Analord 5

Released 14 March 2005.

Analord 6

Released 11 April 2005.

Analord 7

Released 25 April 2005.

Analord 8

Released 9 May 2005.

Analord 9

Released 13 June 2005.

Analord 10

Released 15 December 2004, Re-released as a picture disc on 11 July 2005.

Analord 11

Released 13 June 2005.
* Released on 24 December 2009, only available through download.