Dataplex

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Dataplex
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 2005
Genre
Length55:31
LabelRaster-Noton R-N 068

Dataplex (stylized as dataplex) is a 2005 album by Japanese sound artist Ryoji Ikeda. It was released in December 2005 by independent record label Raster-Noton on CD.

Background[edit]

"Caution! This CD contains specific waveform data that performs a data-read test for optical drives. The last track will cause some CD players to experience playback errors, with no damage to equipment."

 —Warning sticker attached inside Dataplex.[1][2][3]

Dataplex was Ryoji Ikeda's first full-length release since his 2002's orchestral Op.[4][5] It is the first part in the Datamatics series, which "interrogates and interprets the mass of raw computer data surrounding us all."[6][5] Overall, it is the musician's seventh solo album.[2][6] The last track, "data.adaplex", causes intentional playback errors when played on some CD players.[1][2][3]

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
PopMatters[3]

BBC Music's Peter Marsh praised its composition stating the tracks are "arranged with surgical precision into short slices of minimalist art-techno; funky in a very cerebral, molecular sort of fashion, they're immersive (and by track 19) almost lush and strangely beautiful."[2] Comparing it to Autechre, PopMatters's Tim O'Neil found "everything is once again falling apart in the most remarkable fashion. The computer is rebooting."[3]

Reflecting on Datamatics as a series, Dusted Magazine's John Seelbach called Dataplex "a surprising and enthralling start".[6] AllMusic's Rob Theakston also said it was "a promising start to what could be one of the most ambitious projects of the post-glitch movement."[4] Brainwashed's Jon Whitney revered the album with "rather rhythmic, challenging, and completely enjoyable: something most computer musician types have failed at."[5]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."data.index"1:39
2."data.simplex"1:02
3."data.duplex"0:53
4."data.triplex"1:45
5."data.multiplex"1:50
6."data.complex"0:49
7."data.hypercomplex"1:20
8."data.googolplex"0:51
9."data.microhelix"3:13
10."data.superhelix"2:28
11."data.minimax"3:09
12."data.syntax"4:17
13."data.telex"1:06
14."data.flex"2:28
15."data.reflex"4:16
16."data.convex"1:29
17."data.vertex"2:06
18."data.vortex"5:49
19."data.matrix"10:01
20."data.adaplex"5:00

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Butler, Nick (11 June 2007). "Ryoji Ikeda - Dataplex (album review )". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Marsh, Peter (2006). "BBC - Music - Review of Ryoji Ikeda - Dataplex". BBC Music. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d O'Neil, Tim (12 February 2006). "Ryoji Ikeda: Dataplex". PopMatters. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Theakston, Rob. "Dataplex - Ryoji Ikeda". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Whitney, Jon (15 January 2006). "Brainwashed - Ryoji Ikeda, "Dataplex"". Brainwashed. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Seelbach, Jeff (26 April 2006). "Dusted Reviews: Ryoji Ikeda - dataplex". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2017.