# Expert Knob Twiddlers

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1996 studio album by Mike & Rich

Expert Knob Twiddlers Studio album by Mike & Rich Released June 24, 1996 (1996-06-24) Recorded 1994[1] Genre IDM[2] electro-funk[3] easy listening[3] Length 57:51 Label Rephlex Richard D. James chronology Hangable Auto Bulb (1995) Expert Knob Twiddlers (1996) Girl/Boy EP (1996)

***Expert Knob Twiddlers*** is a 1996 studio album by [Mike Paradinas](/source/Mike_Paradinas) and [Richard D. James](/source/Aphex_Twin). It was released in 1996 on [Rephlex Records](/source/Rephlex_Records) and is the only release credited to the two as Mike & Rich.[4]

On 14 July 2016 [Planet Mu](/source/Planet_Mu) announced that a reissued version would be released with seven bonus tracks in September 2016.[5]

## Production

[Mike Paradinas](/source/Mike_Paradinas) described the sound of the album as "an updated version of [easy listening](/source/Easy_listening) and [funk](/source/Funk)".[6] James had heard the music Paradinas had made under the name of Jake Slazenger and invited him to create tracks. Paradinas noted James had invited other artists to collaborate with him, including [Luke Vibert](/source/Luke_Vibert), [Squarepusher](/source/Squarepusher) and [Cylob](/source/Cylob) and was honoured that his collaborative tracks were chosen for the release. Both artists were getting drunk while developing tracks, something that Paradinas stated that neither artist regularly did.[1]

The track "Giant Deflating Football" was written during the [1994 FIFA World Cup](/source/1994_FIFA_World_Cup). Paradinas noted that the two "were able to quite quickly write a large amount of material. 'Giant Deflating Football' is named because it had some quite weird percussion sounds made by scraping and blowing in a microphone. It sounded like a big wheezing football. We took a bit of acid afterwards to listen to it, and we were coming out with some imagery like 'Beady Eyes,' which is mentioned in one of the tracks."[1]

## Release

The cover of the album features Paradinas and James playing the [Milton Bradley](/source/Milton_Bradley_Company) game *[Downfall](/source/Downfall_(game))*, whilst also parodying the box art of the original game.[7]

*Expert Knob Twiddlers* was released by [Rephlex Records](/source/Rephlex_Records) on 24 June 1996 on [audio cassette](/source/Audio_cassette), [compact disc](/source/Compact_disc) and [vinyl](/source/Vinyl_record).[8] Paradinas felt the album should have been released as early as 1994, stating that "At that time, that style was something that no one else had done [...] It wasn't like anything anyone heard before really. By the time it did come out, a lot of things came out like [Carbon Trio](/source/Uwe_Schmidt) and there was a lot of revived interest in easy listening. Neither of us was prepared for it."[6]

On 19 July 2016 the song "Vodka (Mix 2)" was released with the announcement of the album's 2016 reissue.[9]

## Reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [10] Clash 8/10[11] Exclaim! 8/10[12] The Guardian [13] Pitchfork 6.6/10[14] PopMatters 8/10[15]

*[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)* gave the album three stars, calling it "a lovingly kitsch collaboration" and that the album "might easily have been a loathsomely ironic exercise." stating that the track "Mr. Frosty" made the album "worth owning".[13] The review concluded that "much of the rest is indulgent piffle."[13] [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) gave the album four stars, while noting that the mixed styles of James and Paradinas "cancels out the particular attractions of both artists, and the listener is left with a somewhat bland album. Fans of Aphex and μ-Ziq will be excited, but newcomers should go elsewhere before they dig this deep."[10] In retrospective reviews, *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* described it as "just a playful, occasionally inspired time capsule of the 1990s."[14]

## Track listing

1996 release[16] No. Title Length 1. "Mr. Frosty" 6:51 2. "Jelly Fish" 6:30 3. "Eggy Toast" 4:07 4. "Reg" 5:57 5. "Vodka" 4:12 6. "Winner Takes All" 5:44 7. "Giant Deflating Football" 6:22 8. "Upright Kangaroo" 3:31 9. "The Sound of the Beady Eyes" 7:46 10. "Bu Bu Bu Ba" 6:51

### 2016 CD reissue

Source:[17]

Disc one No. Title Length 1. "Mr. Frosty" 6:53 2. "Reg" 5:56 3. "Jelly Fish" 6:01 4. "Eggy Toast" 4:32 5. "Vodka" 4:12 6. "Winner Takes All" 5:44 7. "Upright Kangaroo" 3:32 8. "Giant Deflating Football" 6:21 9. "The Sound of the Beady Eyes" 7:46 10. "Bu Bu Bu Ba" 6:52

Disc two No. Title Length 11. "Vodka" (Mix 2) 4:22 12. "Portamento Gosh" 2:02 13. "Waltz" 5:24 14. "Brivert & Muonds" 6:17 15. "Clissold Bathroom" 0:54 16. "Jelly Fish" (Mix 2) 5:21 17. "Organ Plodder" 4:15

Digital exclusive track No. Title Length 18. "Upright Kangaroo" (Mix 2) 4:33

## Personnel

Adapted from the *Expert Knob Twiddlers* liner notes:[16]

- Performers [Everything By] – [Michael Paradinas](/source/Mike_Paradinas), [Richard James](/source/Aphex_Twin)

- Cover – Johnny Clayton, Richard James

## Footnotes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dummy_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dummy_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dummy_1-2) Bulut, Selim (8 September 2015). ["The 20 tracks that define Planet Mu, according to Mike Paradinas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181302/http://www.dummymag.com/lists/planet-mu-20th-anniversary-best-tracks-according-to-mike-paradinas). *Dummy*. Archived from [the original](http://www.dummymag.com/lists/planet-mu-20th-anniversary-best-tracks-according-to-mike-paradinas) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Twells, John. ["Aphex Twin and μ-Ziq's Expert Knob Twiddlers gets expanded reissue"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181012134701/http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/14/aphex-twin-%C2%B5-ziq-expert-knob-twiddlers-reissue/). *FACT*. Archived from [the original](http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/14/aphex-twin-%C2%B5-ziq-expert-knob-twiddlers-reissue/) on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bush_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bush_3-1) Bush, John. ["Aphex Twin | Biography & History"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/aphex-twin-mn0000493848/biography). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 9 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["TrouserPress.com :: Aphex Twin"](http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=aphex_twin). *www.trouserpress.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Twells, John. ["Aphex Twin and μ-Ziq's Expert Knob Twiddlers gets expanded reissue"](http://www.factmag.com/2016/07/14/aphex-twin-%C2%B5-ziq-expert-knob-twiddlers-reissue/). *Fact Mag*. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-psf-review_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-psf-review_6-1) ["u-Ziq Interview by Jason Gross"](https://web.archive.org/web/19990427103341/http://www.furious.com/perfect/uziq.html). *[Perfect Sound Forever](/source/Perfect_Sound_Forever_(magazine))*. September 1997. Archived from [the original](http://www.furious.com/perfect/uziq.html) on 27 April 1999. Retrieved 27 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuckley200335_7-0)** [Buckley 2003](#CITEREFBuckley2003), p. 35.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-promo_8-0)** "[Inside Promo Sheet]". *Expert Knob Twiddlers* (Media notes). Mike & Rich. Rephlex Records. 1996. CAT 027 LP.{{[cite AV media notes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes)}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others_in_cite_AV_media_(notes)))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Lozano, Kevin (19 July 2016). ["Aphex Twin and μ-Ziq Announce Expert Knob Twiddlers Reissue, Share Unreleased Track"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161129005634/https://pitchfork.com/news/66803-aphex-twin-and-ziq-announce-expert-knob-twiddlers-reissue-share-unreleased-track/). *Pitchfork*. Archived from [the original](http://pitchfork.com/news/66803-aphex-twin-and-ziq-announce-expert-knob-twiddlers-reissue-share-unreleased-track/) on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmusic_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmusic_10-1) Bush, John. ["Expert Knob Twiddlers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161118150315/http://www.allmusic.com/album/expert-knob-twiddlers-mw0000046756). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.allmusic.com/album/expert-knob-twiddlers-mw0000046756) on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Dolan, Jack. ["Mike and Rich – Expert Knob Twiddlers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160904111723/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/mike-and-rich-expert-knob-twiddlers/). *[Clash](/source/Clash_(magazine))*. Archived from [the original](https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/mike-and-rich-expert-knob-twiddlers/) on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Pearson, Luke. ["Mike & Rich - Expert Knob Twiddlers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240418205147/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_and_rich-expert_knob_twiddlers). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*. Archived from [the original](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mike_and_rich-expert_knob_twiddlers) on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guardian-review_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guardian-review_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-guardian-review_13-2) Bennun, David (19 July 1996). "Dance". *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. London: Guardian News & Media Limited. p. A12. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pfork_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pfork_14-1) Richardson, Mark (30 September 2016). ["Expert Knob Twiddlers"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22298-expert-knob-twiddlers/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161229054441/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22298-expert-knob-twiddlers/) from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Paul, John. ["Mike & Rich: Expert Knob Twiddlers"](https://www.popmatters.com/mike-rich-expert-knob-twiddlers-2495414576.html). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sleeve_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sleeve_16-1) "[Inside sleeve]". *Expert Knob Twiddlers* (Media notes). Mike & Rich. [Rephlex Records](/source/Rephlex_Records). 1996. cat027cd.{{[cite AV media notes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes)}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others_in_cite_AV_media_(notes)))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Slingerland, Calum. ["Aphex Twin and μ-Ziq Treat 'Expert Knob Twiddlers' to Expanded Reissue"](http://exclaim.ca/music/article/aphex_twin_and_-ziq_to_reissue_expert_knob_twiddlers). *Exclaim*. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

### References

- Buckley, Peter, ed. (2003). [*The Rough Guide to Rock*](https://archive.org/details/roughguidetorock0003unse). [Rough Guides](/source/Rough_Guides). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1843531054](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1843531054).

v t e Aphex Twin Discography Tracks As Aphex Twin Studio albums Selected Ambient Works 85–92 (1992) Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994) ...I Care Because You Do (1995) Richard D. James Album (1996) Drukqs (2001) Syro (2014) EPs Analogue Bubblebath (1991) Analog Bubblebath Vol 2 (1991) Digeridoo (1992) Xylem Tube (1992) On (1993) Ventolin (1995) Donkey Rhubarb (1995) Girl/Boy EP (1996) Come to Daddy (1997) Analord 10 (2005) Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 (2015) Cheetah (2016) Collapse (2018) Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760 (2023) London 19.08.2023 (2023) Singles "Come to Daddy" (1997) "Windowlicker" (1999) "Avril 14th" (2001) "minipops 67 [120.2]" (2014) "MARCHROMT30A edit 2b 96" (2015) "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" (2023) Compilations Classics (1995) 26 Mixes for Cash (2003) Chosen Lords (2006) Music from the Merch Desk (2016–2023) (2024) As AFX Analogue Bubblebath Vol 3 (1992) Analogue Bubblebath 4 (1994) Hangable Auto Bulb (1995, 2005) Smojphace EP (2003) Analords 1–9, 11 (2004-2005) Chosen Lords (2006) Orphaned Deejay Selek 2006–08 (2015) London 03.06.17 (2017) As The Tuss Confederation Trough (2007) Rushup Edge (2007) As Polygon Window Surfing on Sine Waves (1993) Quoth (1993) As Bradley Strider Bradley's Robot (1993) Bradley's Beat (1995) As Caustic Window Joyrex J4 EP (1992) Joyrex J5 EP (1992) Joyrex J9i (1993) Joyrex J9ii (1993) Compilation (1998) Caustic Window (2014) As GAK GAK (1994) As Power Pill Pac-Man EP (1992) Collaborations Expert Knob Twiddlers (1996) Unreleased Q-Chastic EP Joyrex Tape Analogue Bubblebath 5 Melodies from Mars Related articles Universal Indicator Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin Warp Records Rephlex Records Chris Cunningham Monkey Drummer Rubber Johnny Warp Works & Twentieth Century Masters SoundCloud demos Category

v t e Mike Paradinas As μ-Ziq Studio albums Tango n' Vectif Bluff Limbo In Pine Effect Lunatic Harness Royal Astronomy Bilious Paths Duntisbourne Abbots Soulmate Devastation Technique Chewed Corners Magic Pony Ride 1977 Grush Extended plays Salsa with Mesquite Urmur Bile Trax Brace Yourself As Jake Slazenger Das Ist Ein Groovy Beat, Ja As Kid Spatula Spatula Freak Full Sunken Breaks Meast Collaborations Expert Knob Twiddlers Related articles Planet Mu

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Expert Knob Twiddlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_Knob_Twiddlers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_Knob_Twiddlers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.