Originally released in 1995 by Aphex Twin, I Care Because You Do was his third full length effort. It was the first of his albums to break away from being a solely ambient affair and featured a wider variety of material. Preceded by the single "Ventolin," which was released on its own with multiple mixes, the record serves as the first sign post of Aphex Twin's particular sense of humor. "Ventolin" - the noisy middle finger to the electronic music world - serves as the track I Care Because You Do is centered around. The tracks preceding it, especially the Philip Glass orchestrated "Icct Hedral," seem to be looking back at what has come before. And what comes after ushers in a new era of productions by Richard D. James. "Come On You Slags!" corals the tinnitus mimicking noise of "Ventolin" into a mellow harbinger of breakcore, complete with porn star samples, while "Start As You Mean To Go On" issues a template for much of the non-4-on-the-floor dance music that would come after it. As the album reaches its final tracks we get to what many people will say is their favorite of Aphex Twin's. "Alberto Balsam," built around a repeating steel drum melody, is one of the first instances of James capturing the emotion of Selected Ambient Works Volume II and repackaging it into a beat and melody driven piece. Worth it for this track alone, I Care Because You Do is one of the essential records in any true head's collection. Recommended.

• 180g black double vinyl pressing
• original release year: 1995
• music label: Warp Records 2012

reviewed by Michu Meszaros 10/2012