APHEX TWIN - SELECTED AMBIENT WORKS 85-92

Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), known professionally as Aphex Twin, is a British musician, composer, and DJ associated with electronic music. His work incorporates styles including techno, ambient, acid, and jungle, and he is frequently linked to the intelligent dance music (IDM) genre. He has been cited by various publications as an influential figure in contemporary electronic music. James was raised in Cornwall, England, and began DJing at free parties and clubs in South West England during the late 1980s. His debut EP, "Analogue Bubblebath", was released in 1991 on Mighty Force Records and established an early following. The same year, he co-founded the independent label Rephlex Records. His debut album, "Selected Ambient Works 85-92", released in 1992 by Apollo Records, received critical acclaim and broadened his audience. After signing to Warp Records, he released albums including "...I Care Because You Do" (1995) and "Richard D. James Album" (1996), as well as singles such as "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker" (1999). The accompanying music videos for these releases, directed by Chris Cunningham, contributed to his international recognition. Following the release of "Drukqs" in 2001 and the completion of his contract with Warp, James released music through Rephlex and under several aliases, including AFX and the Tuss. In 2014, a previously unreleased 1994 album recorded under the Caustic Window alias was officially distributed following a fan-organised crowdfunding campaign. Later that year, he released "Syro", which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Subsequent releases included the EPs "Cheetah" (2016) and "Collapse" (2018). His 2023 single "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. Since 2015, James has periodically released demo recordings and unreleased material through SoundCloud. James was born on 18 August 1971 in Limerick, Ireland, to Welsh parents. He had an older brother, also named Richard, who was stillborn before James's birth. According to interviews, the family later lived in Canada for a period due to his father's mining work. James grew up in Cornwall, where he attended Redruth School and later studied engineering at Cornwall College between 1988 and 1990, earning a National Diploma. During childhood, James developed an interest in sound and electronics, experimenting with tape machines and musical instruments. In interviews, he described modifying electronic equipment and synthesisers to create sounds. He also stated that, at age 11, he had experimented with programming sound on a Sinclair ZX81 computer, although later reports questioned aspects of this account. By the late 1980s, James had become active in the Cornish free party scene, organising and DJing at events in rural and coastal locations. In 1989, he began a regular DJ residency at the Bowgie nightclub in Crantock, where he met Tom Middleton and Grant Wilson-Claridge. Middleton introduced James's recordings to promoter Mark Darby, leading to the release of "Analogue Bubblebath" on Mighty Force Records. Wilson-Claridge later co-founded Rephlex Records with James. Throughout 1991 and 1992, James released multiple EPs under aliases including Aphex Twin, Caustic Window, Polygon Window, and Power-Pill. The single "Digeridoo" entered the UK Singles Chart, and his contributions to Warp Records' "Artificial Intelligence" compilation helped establish the emerging IDM scene alongside artists such as Autechre and Richie Hawtin. In 1993, he released "Surfing on Sine Waves" under the Polygon Window alias and the EP "On", which reached the UK Top 40. James toured extensively during the early 1990s, performing with artists including the Orb, Orbital, Moby, and Vapourspace. In 1994, Warp released "Selected Ambient Works Volume II", an ambient-oriented album influenced by James's interest in lucid dreaming and synaesthesia. The album reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1995, James released "...I Care Because You Do", whose cover featured a self-portrait that later became associated with his visual identity. That year he also released the "Hangable Auto Bulb" EP under the AFX alias, which became associated with the drill 'n' bass style. In 1996, he collaborated with Michael Paradinas under the name Mike & Rich on the album "Expert Knob Twiddlers". "Richard D. James Album", released in 1996, featured extensive use of software synthesis and complex rhythmic structures. In 1997, James released the "Come to Daddy" EP, followed by the single "Windowlicker" in 1999. Both releases achieved chart success and were accompanied by music videos directed by Chris Cunningham. In 2001, James released the double album "Drukqs", which combined electronic programming with prepared and computer-controlled piano compositions. The track "Avril 14th" became one of his most widely recognised recordings. James later stated that the album had been released earlier than planned after he misplaced an MP3 player containing unreleased material. During the 2000s, James continued releasing music under multiple aliases. In 2005, he issued the "Analord" EP series under the AFX name, using analogue equipment exclusively. These recordings were later compiled as "Chosen Lords" (2006). Under the alias the Tuss, he released "Confederation Trough" and "Rushup Edge" in 2007. In 2009, Rephlex Records digitally reissued the "Analord" series with additional tracks before the label later ceased operations. James also collaborated with visual artist Weirdcore, who began producing visuals for his live performances in 2009. In 2011, James performed works by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki as part of a tribute concert. In 2014, the release of "Syro" marked the first Aphex Twin album since "Drukqs". The album was promoted through an advertising campaign involving graffiti, a blimp over London, and announcements distributed via the Tor network. The same year, James uploaded a collection of tracks titled "Modular Trax" to SoundCloud. Between 2015 and later years, he uploaded hundreds of demos and archival recordings to the platform. In 2015, James released "Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2", created using robotic and computer-controlled instruments. "Cheetah" followed in 2016, and in 2018 he released the EP "Collapse". Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, James frequently distributed limited-edition vinyl releases at live performances and festivals. In 2023, James returned to live performance with appearances at festivals including Field Day and Sónar. He released the EP "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760", accompanied by an augmented reality promotional application. Additional limited releases connected to live events were distributed during the tour. In 2024, an expanded edition of "Selected Ambient Works Volume II" was announced and released in multiple physical and digital formats, including previously unreleased material. Later that year, the compilation "Music from the Merch Desk (2016-2023)" was released without prior announcement, collecting tracks previously sold exclusively at live events. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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) Compilations Classics (1995) Music from the Merch Desk (2016–2023) (2024) EPs Digeridoo (1992) Xylem Tube (1992) On (1993) Ventolin (1995) Donkey Rhubarb (1995) Girl/Boy (1996) Come to Daddy (1997) Windowlicker (1999) Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 (2015) Cheetah (2016) Collapse (2018) Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760 (2023) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.