Guide to Experiencing Aphex Twin

Richard D. James is the man behind the moniker "Aphex Twin", "AFX", "Polygon Window" and a number of others less commonly known.

You'll find through interviews and various sources that James is said to have begun making electronic music at age 12 by modifying electrical equipment, creating the sounds he desired. Whether this is true or not is of course entirely unverifiable. However the idea that he did, and the many stories about his eccentric personality (like the fact that he bought a Tank, and lives in an old Bank, or how his friends say that his best music is unreleased) have made him a topic of interest escalating his popularity.

What's undeniable is that he popularized Intelligent Dance Music because of the creativity of his music earning him the success he's acheived.

This guide will allow the newcomer to experience Aphex Twin in a way that will help them to appreciate his music and understand why he set the benchmark.

First suggested album listening:

Richard D. James
Although this album was created further in his career it's an amazing variety of music that showcases such a variety of songs. "4", "Fingerbib", and "Girl/Boy Song" are truly some of the most listenable IDM songs ever made. The unusual music patterns will of course take some a back on initial listen, but if you pay close attention (well it will grab and hold your attention whether you like it or not), you'll hear the complexity of the sound. It goes from a drill and bass sound in "Inkey$", to a soothing (albeit creepy) sound in "Beetles". Likely you haven't heard anything like this album before.

Second suggested album listening:

Selected Ambient works 85-92
Entirely different from the Richard D. James album, the Ambient Works 85-92 is ambient techno at it's best. You won't hear much fast paced drill and bass, but rather vast slow-moving landscapes of sound among each drastically different song. Impossible to point out the best song in the album, it all sounds as though it was so effortless to create, but you can't stop listening to it. The album is a necessary listen in that before moving onto his other music, some background of his first creations should be heard to understand the simple sounding yet complex music he makes.

Third suggested listening:

Windowlicker Single
Short and sweet - this became Aphex Twin's most well known hit for a reason. The song truly is one of the greatest electronic songs ever created - it's such a pleasure to listen to. The rest of the album does an amazing job and sounding like a regular full album by giving you two other very different songs which have provides a complete listening experience.

Fourth suggested listening:

Drukqs
This is the last full-fledged album that was released by "Aphex Twin". It has stirred controversy among fans and critics due to the odd paring of hard intense songs, along with slow piano breaks. In my opinion it shouldn't be any other way. The piano and prepared piano sounds utterly beautiful, and provides just that - a break from the intensity. The two songs "Mt Saint michel mix+st michael" and "vordhosbn" showcase his technical ability like no others.

Last suggested album listening:

...I Care Because You Do
Upon first listen you probably won't like this album. Listen to it 3 more times and you'll find you can't put it away. "Acrid Avid Jam Shred", "Mookid", and above all "Alberto Balsalm" stand out here. The sounds he uses to make the songs on this album are perfect (except for Ventolin - it's almost a certainty he put this song on here to play with his listeners). The more you listen to the album you will find it more difficult to decide which songs are better, and will discover how insanely complex some of the rhythm's actually are.

There are many more albums to explore but this set of albums will give you an excellent background on "Aphex Twin", and covers much of his best music. The reason that there are so many imitators of him should be no suprise by the end of your listen. Each album he has created is fresh and different, and impossible to replicate. Enjoy.