Aphex Twin announces 30th anniversary box set of classic ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II’

Aphex Twin has announced the release of an expanded edition of ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II’.

• READ MORE: Aphex Twin at Printworks, London: still one of the greatest electronic shows on earth

The box set was previously teased in an Instagram post via record label Warp. The reissue of Aphex Twin’s 1994 album will feature a fold-out poster, sticker sheet and booklet with artwork development sketches by Paul Nicholson. It will come in a hinged oak case and an etched copper plate. Each copy is unique and are made to order.

It will be available as a 4-LP set, a 3-CD set and a deluxe 4-LP box set. The ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II’ 30th anniversary issue is set for release on October 4 via Warp. You can pre-order it here.

Released in 1994 as a follow-up to his debut LP ‘Selected Ambient Works 85–92’, ‘Selected Ambient Works Volume II’ differed from Aphex Twin’s previous work with its sound being mainly beatless. Upon its release, the album earned the Number 11 spot on the UK Albums Chart and is considered to be the electronic musician’s acclaimed shift from ambient techno to darker ambient music.

All versions of ‘Selected Ambient Works Vol II’ include all of Aphex Twins’ tracks which were released back in 1994 on various formats. The set brings all of the tracks together for the first time in one big release. It also features the song “#19′ which was previously known as ‘Stone In Focus’ and was only available on vinyl.

The ‘Selected Ambient Works Vol II’ 30th-anniversary box set track list is: 

1. ‘#1’
2. ‘#2’
3. ‘#3’
4. ‘#4’
5. ‘#5’
6. ‘#6’
7. ‘#7’
8. ‘#8’
9. ‘#9’
10. ‘#10’
11. ‘#11’
12. ‘#12’
13. ‘Blue Calx’
14. ‘#14’
15. ‘#15’
16. ‘#16’
17. ‘#17’
18. ‘#18’
19. ‘#19’
20. ‘#20’
21. ‘#21’
22. ‘#22’
23. ‘#23’
24. ‘#24’
25. ‘#25’
26. ‘th1 [evnslower]’
27. ‘Rhubarb Orc. 19.53 Rev’

Earlier this year, Aphex Twin once again clarified his stance on vaccines, after an old note of his resurfaced that seems to promote conspiracy theories.

A Reddit user recently came across an ID3 tag apparently written by the electronic musician, real name Richard D. James, in 2014. It read: “vaccines are poisonous, mercury, aluminum can+ autism, cancer”, while also referencing other conspiracies involving 9/11, chemtrails and others.

Responding to the tag, James took to Soundcloud and shed some light on the matter (via Stereogum). “Hello, got a few messages regarding some txt I apparently put in an id3 tag,” he began.

“My thoughts on vaccines for what it’s worth is that I’m not against them in principle but you should look at them on a case by case basis, see what’s in them, do your research and decide if it’s right for you or your loved ones, it’s up to the individual whether you have them or not.”

Elsewhere, Aphex Twin released his latest EP ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760’ back in July last year, his first new music in five years. The EP’s lead track was later included on NME’s 50 Best Songs of 2023. The EP also spawned its own augmented reality app.