Ventolin (EP)

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Ventolin
Ventolin (EP cover).jpg
EP / Single by
Released27 March 1995
Genre
Length26:27
Label Warp
Producer Aphex Twin
Richard D. James chronology
Classics
(1995)
Ventolin
(1995)
...I Care Because You Do
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

"Ventolin" is a 1995 EP by the electronic music artist and producer Aphex Twin. It is noted for its harsh, abrasive sound. James recorded numerous versions of the piece. The record entered the Dance Singles Chart at number 15 in April 1995. [3]

Contents

The piece is named after a trade name for the drug salbutamol, which is prescribed for the treatment of asthma. A reported side effect of this drug is tinnitus, [4] a high-pitched ringing in the ears. James utilised this effect in "Ventolin", incorporating a piercing high-pitched ringing sound throughout the track. The music also incorporates heavily distorted techno beats. The resulting effect has been cited as "one of the harshest singles ever recorded". [5]

The song is sampled by the Vancouver industrial band Front Line Assembly in the song "Retribution" on their 1999 album Implode .

Album/video version

The first recording of "Ventolin" (the "video version") appeared on a music video produced to accompany the track. The video consists of a woman being trapped in an elevator with other industrial images interspersed. The "video version" of the track was released a month later on the 1995 Aphex Twin album ...I Care Because You Do .

Single releases

In 1995 Warp Records released "Ventolin" as a single in the United Kingdom, on 12-inch vinyl and CD in two parts, Ventolin and Ventolin Remixes. Between them, these EPs have a further 12 tracks, ostensibly versions of "Ventolin". The record entered the Dance Singles Chart at number 15 on 8 April 1995. [3]

Designed by Dan Parkes (who also designed the artwork for On ), the single's artwork has Renaissance-style anatomical drawings of a human head and upper torso, together with an asthma inhaler and the Aphex Twin logo.

Notes on the various "remixes"

Whilst all twelve versions of "Ventolin" on these singles are labelled as ostensible remixes, in many cases they appear to be almost entirely new pieces of music, bearing only nominal relation to the original. The "Wheeze" mix is the only remix that utilises the high-pitched ringing and sounds from the original "Ventolin".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Richard David James unless noted

Ventolin
No.TitleLength
1."Ventolin" (Salbutamol Mix)5:46
2."Ventolin" (Praze-An-Beeble Mix)3:21
3."Ventolin" (Marazanvose Mix)2:10
4."Ventolin" (Plain-An-Gwarry Mix)4:37
5."Ventolin" (The Coppice Mix)4:35
6."Ventolin" (Crowsmengegus Mix)5:52
Total length:26:27
2017 re-release digital bonus tracks [7]
No.TitleLength
7."hilow [ru,ec,+3]"2:55
8."ventolin1 un e,ru,ec+2"1:21
Total length:30:43
Ventolin Remixes
No.TitleRemix byLength
1."Ventolin" (Wheeze Mix) 7:07
2."Ventolin" (Carharrack Mix) 2:49
3."Ventolin" (Probus Mix) 4:14
4."Ventolin" (Cylob Mix) Cylob 5:02
5."Ventolin" (Deep Gong Mix) Luke Vibert 6:18
6."Ventolin" (Asthma Beats Mix) 1:39
Total length:27:09

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References

  1. Murphy, Ben (3 January 2019). "SOLID GOLD: HOW APHEX TWIN'S 'SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 85-92' REFINED DANCE MUSIC". DJ Mag. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  2. "Aphex Twin - Ventolin". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 Redmond, Steve, ed. (8 April 1995). "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . London: Spotlight Publications. p. 19.
  4. Goodey, R. J. (1981). "Drugs in the Treatment of Tinnitus". Ciba Foundation Symposium 85 - Tinnitus. Novartis Foundation Symposia. Vol. 85. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 263–78. doi:10.1002/9780470720677.ch15. ISBN   978-0-470-72067-7. PMID   6799263 . Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. Ventolin at AllMusic
  6. Map
  7. "Aphex Twin - Ventolin. Aphex Twin". Warp . Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2021.