When Richard D. James much seems to be mysterious and cranky, as the own artist name or a single title. What did you imagine under Tha or Hedphelym? Other sounds like Greco-Roman antiquity (Ageispolis, Ptolemy, Delphium, Actium) or science (Xtal, Pulse Width, Green Calx, Heliosphan, Schottky, Ptolemy). A simple, clear statement, however, contains the title "We Are The Music Makers". And this could also be the motto of this successful overall plate.
The informative "sleeve notes" by Wil Troup speak of modern electronic music between Acid and Ambience. Although I have nothing with Acid on hat, so the entire board acts personally but influenced very harmonically and rhythmically at me. The only exception is The spa located in the middle piece Green Calx which deviates a little because of his more experimental, hectic pace and the sometimes creaking, partly cheeping arcade noises from melodic overall impression of the plate.
As already suggested by the album title, you connect this board generally with the genre Ambient. This makes perfect sense when you think about the use of environmental sounds and celestial sounds.
Because of the strong rhythmic component, I wonder whether one should primarily speak of Ambient here or if you prefer not content with sophisticated techno.
Ambient is in my opinion rather music with sparingly used beats and rhythms, as for example in the follow-up work Selected Ambient Works Volume II is largely the case. The debut album, SAW 85-95, however, is also distinguished by rhythmic qualities, and some pieces take mE even already Drum & Bass anticipated.
Anyway, SAW 85-95 is a highly recommended plate to which there is nothing wrong. The Ferrari for fans of electronic music.