I remember the first time I heard Aphex Twin. This was back when he released Selected Ambient Works: 85-92, a right weird collection of electronic music boxes, some of which were homemade, damaged and downtrodden synths, drum machines, and noise. The result was sometimes impossibly beautiful acid and techno music. Nothing sounded like it back then.

This is the guy I thought of when I first heard Random. Random spills out ideas and arrangements almost without any care. Take the drums: ancient CR78 and 808 sounds which are worked into two sets of instrumentation. The first set recalls the meticulous sound crafting of mid-90s electronica. The second set includes a huge booming sub-bass drum sound that recalls early dark jungle. Everything rambles helter-skelter and on top of this is Lady Sovereign’s insane rapping. It’s funny, deliriously trippy chatter.

Dizzee Rascal was probably the first well-known face of British grime music, who’s first album was an extraordinary accomplishment. Fearless and experimental. I have a feeling that Lady Sovereign will be next when her album comes out late Summer 2005.

Spookily, there are two grime compilations available. Each featuring tracks by a handful of producers. I write ‘spookily’ because they’re released on Rephlex: Richard James’ record label. Oh, and he’s also known as Aphex Twin. The connection was there all along.