Aphex Twin - Didgeridoo

The encounter of electronic dance rhythms with one of the oldest and most organic instruments, the didgeridoo which is made out of a tree branch hollowed out by termites was certainly one of the more surprising fusions in recent popular music. The Cornish analog synthesizer nerd Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin who (surprise surprise) apparently does not have a working website seems to have been the first who made this kind of electronic world music on his first major EP. The didgeridoo which usually has an enduring vibrating droning sound as the player uses circular breathing has been speeded up to create a beat which seems to come out of the oral cavity quite similar to a jew's harp. The dance rhythm originates in the mouth and radiates towards the head. It is like a synthetic trance. Maybe that's why this kind of music has been called acid (techno). There are also some ambient noises (electronic crickets, birds etc.) around which give this an even more authentic touch. When harder and faster beats arrive in the second half we definitely have moved far away from any songlines though. Back from dreamtime into the fast, short-lived brutal present so to speak.