26 Mixes for Cash is a compilation album of remixes produced by Richard D. James (under his recording alias Aphex Twin), mainly for other artists between 1990 and 2003. It was released on 24 March 2003 by Warp Records.

26 Mixes for Cash
Compilation album by
Released24 March 2003
Recorded1990–2003
GenreElectronica[1]
Length139:01 (total)
71:46 (CD1)
67:15 (CD2)
LabelWarp Records
ProducerRichard D. James
Richard D. James chronology
Drukqs
(2001)
26 Mixes for Cash
(2003)
Smojphace EP
(2003)
Aphex Twin album chronology
Drukqs
(2001)
26 Mixes for Cash
(2003)
Chosen Lords
(2006)

Background edit

Despite becoming a sought-after remixer during the 1990s, James admitted to not actually using the original source material in the case of some of his "remixes" for artists he disliked (such as Nine Inch Nails), explaining: "I never heard the originals...I don't want to, either."[2] In some cases, he submitted his own original work, or the work of his flatmate Global Goon in place of his own work.[3][better source needed]

Along with the 22 remixes on this release, four original Aphex Twin tracks are also included. Two are new versions of previously released tracks: "Windowlicker, Acid Edit" and "SAW2 CD1 TRK2, Original Mix". The other two were previously available only on Further Down the Spiral, the remix album by Nine Inch Nails: "The Beauty of Being Numb Section B" and an edited version of "At the Heart of It All".

In addition to the remixes featured on this release, James has also remixed tracks by Beck, DJ Pierre, and Soft Ballet, as well as additional remixes of tracks by Seefeel, Gavin Bryars, Jesus Jones, Saint Etienne, and Mescalinum United.

Release edit

26 Mixes for Cash was released on CD only, although a vinyl promotional disc titled 2 Mixes on a 12" For Cash, featuring the two Aphex Twin originals exclusive to this compilation, was released in limited quantities in Japan only. Online orders of the compilation through Warp Records came with two silver-wrapped chocolate coins, featuring the Aphex Twin logo on one side and Richard's profile on the other (with "ELECTRONICA REX" written alongside it). The cover is by The Designers Republic.

James later clarified that the album was named 26 Mixes for Cash by the late Warp Records co-founder Rob Mitchell because James exchanged the remix DATs for cash in person so that the record companies would not know his bank account details or address.[4]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Drowned in Sound9/10[6]
The Guardian     [7]
The Independentfavourable[8]
NME8/10[9]
Pitchfork7.7/10[10]
Release Magazine8/10[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [12]
Tiny Mix Tapes     [13]

AllMusic states that the compilation "comprises some of the most creative, breathtaking music produced by anyone in electronica".[14] NME wrote that "the more cash at stake the less effort Aphex puts into honouring the spirit of the artist – an often hilarious greenie in the face of pop careerism".[15] Pitchfork states that "frustrating gestation period aside, many of the tracks here are certified classics, and it's nice to have them all in one place".[16]

Track listing edit

Disc one
No.TitleRemix ofLength
1."Time to Find Me, AFX Fast Mix"Seefeel7:34
2."Raising the Titanic, Big Drum Mix"Gavin Bryars' 1994 recording of his 1969 The Sinking of the Titanic orchestral piece[17]8:42
3."Journey, Aphex Twin Care Mix"The Gentle People10:14
4."Triachus, Mix by Aphex Twin"Kinesthesia4:12
5."Heroes, Aphex Twin Remix"Philip Glass' orchestral version of David Bowie's "Heroes", mixed with samples of Bowie's singing from the original5:18
6."In The Glitter Part 2, Aphex Twin Mix"Buck-Tick5:02
7."Zeros and Ones, Aphex Twin Reconstruction #2"Jesus Jones5:49
8."Ziggy, Aphex Twin Mix #1"Nav Katze4:25
9."Your Head My Voice, Voix Revirement"Saint Etienne3:15
10."Change, Aphex Twin Mix #2"Nav Katze4:16
11."Une Femme N'est Pas Un Homme, Aphex Twin Mix"The Beatniks4:06
12."The Beauty of Being Numb Section B, Created by Aphex Twin"an original track; the A section of "The Beauty of Being Numb" was "Mr. Self Destruct" remixed by Nine Inch Nails for their remix album Further Down the Spiral3:27
13."Let My Fish Loose, Aphex Twin Remix"Nobukazu Takemura5:26
Total length:71:46
Disc two
No.TitleRemix ofLength
1."Krieger, Aphex Twin Baldhu Mix"Die Fantastischen Vier3:23
2."Deep in Velvet, Aphex Twin Turnips Mix"Phillip Boa and the Voodooclub3:50
3."Falling Free, Aphex Twin Remix"Curve7:40
4."We Have Arrived, Aphex Twin QQT Mix"Mescalinum United4:23
5."At the Heart of It All, Created by Aphex Twin"created for the Nine Inch Nails remix album Further Down the Spiral, shorter edit than the original 7:14 version3:49
6."Flow Coma, Remix By AFX"808 State5:00
7."Windowlicker, Acid Edit"acid remix of the title track of Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker"4:15
8."Normal, Helston Flora Remix by AFX"Baby Ford6:51
9."SAW2 CD1 TRK2, Original Mix"alternate version of the track from Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II commonly known as "[radiator]" with added beats (was included in the 10 April 1995 edition of Peel Sessions)6:30
10."Mindstream, The Aphex Twin Remix"Meat Beat Manifesto3:42
11."You Can't Hide Your Love, Hidden Love Mix"DMX Krew5:05
12."Spotlight, Aphex Twin Mix"Wagon Christ6:57
13."Debase, Soft Palate"Mike Flowers Pops5:50
Total length:67:15

Charts edit

Chart performance for 26 Mixes for Cash
Chart (2003) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[18] 86
UK Albums (OCC)[19] 63
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[20] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[21] 18
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[22] 29

References edit

  1. ^ Bush, John. "Aphex Twin - 26 Mixes for Cash". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Allmusic review
  4. ^ James, Richard D. "26 Mixes for Cash". Aphex Twin. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  5. ^ Allmusic review
  6. ^ "Album Review: Aphex Twin - 26 Mixes for Cash / Releases / Releases // Drowned in Sound". Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  7. ^ The Guardian review 21 March 2003
  8. ^ The Independent review[dead link] 21 March 2003
  9. ^ NME review
  10. ^ Pitchfork Media review 11 April 2003
  11. ^ "Aphex Twin: 26 Mixes for Cash - Release Music Magazine review".
  12. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Aphex Twin". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 21. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  13. ^ "Music Review: Aphex Twin - 26 Mixes for Cash".
  14. ^ Allmusic review
  15. ^ NME review
  16. ^ Pitchfork Media review 11 April 2003
  17. ^ Gavin Bryars' Ensemble Discography
  18. ^ "Lescharts.com – Aphex Twin – 26 Mixes for Cash". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Aphex Twin | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Aphex Twin Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Aphex Twin Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  22. ^ "Aphex Twin Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2023.

External links edit