Aphex Twin (born Richard David James on August 18, 1971 in Limerick, Ireland) is a Cornish electronic music artist. He has been described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music." Rephlex Records was co-founded by Aphex Twin with his friend Grant Wilson-Claridge in 1991.
History
Early life
Richard David James was born of Welsh parents Lorna and Derek James at 5:00 AM on August 18, 1971 in St. Munchins Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital, Ireland. James grew up in Lanner, Cornwall, England, enjoying, along with two older sisters a "very happy" childhood during which they, according to James, "were pretty much left to do what [they] wanted." He "liked growing up there, being cut off from the city and the rest of the world." James was educated at the Redruth School located in Redruth, Cornwall .As a child he experimented on the strings and hammers of the family piano. According to Benjamin Middleton, James started producing music at the age of 12. As a teenager he DJed at the Shire Horse in St Ives, with Tom Middleton at the Bowgie Inn in Crantock, and also along the numerous beaches around Cornwall. From age 16 to 18 James studied for a National Diploma in Engineering from 1988 to 1990 in Cornwall College. James describing his course has said "music and electronics went hand in hand". According to his teachers he passed the course, although he listened to his mixes on his headphones during practical lessons.
Early career: early 1990s
James met Grant Wilson-Claridge in 1989, while they were DJing on alternate weeks at the Bowgie in Newquay, Cornwall. Wilson-Claridge was intrigued by James' sets and was later surprised to discover that James was playing tapes of his own music.Richard James's first record was the 12-inch EP Analogue Bubblebath released as AFX, the track "En Trance to Exit" was made with Tom Middleton aka Schizophrenia. It was played on the KISS FM playlist, an influential London pirate station, which helped the EP become a success.
In 1991 James formed Rephlex Records with his friend Grant Wilson-Claridge to promote: "Innovation in the dynamics of Acid - a much loved and misunderstood genre of house music forgotten by some and indeed new to others, especially in Britain."
Between 1991 and 1993, James released two Analogue Bubblebath EPs under the name of AFX and a Bradley Strider EP under "Bradley Strider". He would also record tracks during this time that appeared on his later releases, ...I Care Because You Do and GAK. Early in his career, James moved to London to take an electronics course at Kingston Polytechnic, but at the time admitted to David Toop that his "electronics studies were already slipping away as a career in the techno business took precedence". After quitting his course, James remained in London and released a number of albums and EPs on Warp Records and other labels under many aliases, including AFX, Polygon Window, and Power-Pill. A number of Richard's tracks (released under the aliases Blue Calx, The Dice Man, and others) were also included in various compilations during this time. Local legend has it that James lived on the roundabout in Elephant and Castle, South London during his early years in the capital.
Gaining success: 1992-1999
The first full-length Aphex Twin album, Selected Ambient Works 85-92, was released in 1992 on R&S Records. John Bush of the All Music Guide described it as a "watershed of ambient music". Rolling Stone magazine wrote of the album: "Aphex Twin expanded way beyond the ambient music of Brian Eno by fusing lush soundscapes with oceanic beats and bass lines". Critics also noted that the songs were recorded on cassette and that the sound quality was "relatively poor". Warp Records has billed the album as "both the birthplace and the benchmark of modern electronic music ... every home should have a copy." In 1992, he also released the Xylem Tube EP and Digeridoo as Aphex Twin, as Power-Pill the Pac-Man EP based on the arcade game Pac-Man, and two of his four Caustic Window EPs. Digeridoo reached #55 on the UK charts, and was later described as forshadowing drum and bass by Rolling Stone. Digeridoo was recorded initially for the benefit of FIZZ-BOMB (at the Shire Horse, St Ives, Cornwall). These early releases came out on Rephlex Records, Mighty Force of Exeter, and R&S Records of Belgium.In 1993, Aphex released his third installment in the Analogue Bubblebath series, an ambient single On, his second Bradley Strider EP, two more Caustic Window EPs, and his first releases on Warp Records, Surfing on Sine Waves and Quoth under the alias Polygon Window.
Warp Records pressed and released a follow-up to SAW85-92, Selected Ambient Works Volume II in 1994. The sound was much less beat-driven than the previous volume. Except for one song explicitly named "Blue Calx", all of the track names were described with pie chart symbols, each of which was meant to be paired with a corresponding image in the album jacket. To decipher song titles, listeners had to pair each numbered symbol with the correct image (for example, the first title, which is often labeled "cliffs", is realized by pairing the first symbol with the first image, which is that of a rocky cliffside). James stated in The Wire magazine and other media that these songs were inspired by lucid dreams and synesthesia. 1994 would also include a string of other releases including his fourth Analogue Bubblebath, GAK, derived from early demos sent to Warp Records and Classics, a compilation album that includes the Digeridoo single, the Xylem Tube EP, along with some other previously unreleased tracks.
For his 1995 release, ...I Care Because You Do, James used an image of his face for the album cover; a motif that would continue on many of his later records. The album was a compilation of songs composed between 1990 and 1994, and represented a mish-mash of Aphex Twin's various music styles. This was Aphex Twin's last record of the 1990s to use mostly analogue synthesizers. Aphex Twin collaborated with minimalist composer Philip Glass to make an orchestral version of one of the songs from this album, "Icct Hedral", which appeared on the Donkey Rhubarb EP. In 1995, two releases Melodies from Mars and Analogue Bubblebath 5 were recorded but not released.
In 1995 (primarily with Hangable Auto Bulb, a near anagram of Analogue Bubblebath), he began releasing more material composed on computers, combining a jungle sound with nostalgic childhood themes and strange computer-generated acid lines. Aphex Twin's early adoption of software synthesizers predated the later popularity of using computers to make music. The late 1990s saw his music become more popular and mainstream, as he released the Richard D. James Album (which included the previously released Girl/Boy EP), and Expert Knob Twiddlers (a collaboration with fellow dance producer u-ziq) in 1996, "Come to Daddy" in 1997 (#36 on UK charts) and "Windowlicker" in 1998 (#16 on UK charts), both of which were shown on MTV and became cover features for music magazines such as NME. The videos for both singles were directed by British artist Chris Cunningham and caused controversy on their release due to disturbing images and themes.
In 1997, a companion to Analogue Bubblebath 3 was released, Analogue Bubblebath 3.1.
2000-2003
In 2001 Aphex Twin released his most personal album yet, drukqs, a 2-CD album which featured prepared piano songs influenced by Erik Satie and John Cage. It is notable that many of the tracks names are written in the Cornish language (e.g. 'jynweythek' translatable as 'machinemusic'). Also included were abrasive, fast and meticulously programmed computer-made songs. Rolling Stone described the piano songs as "aimlessly pretty". Some reviewers concluded that drukqs was released as a contract breaker with Warp Records—a credible guess, as James' next big release came out on his own Rephlex label. Richard told the interviewers he had left almost all the album's tracks on an MP3 player that he accidentally left on a plane with "Aphex Twin - unreleased tracks" written on it, and rushed its release to pre-empt an Internet leak.2004-2008
In late 2004, rumours of James' return to an acid techno based sound were realised with the Analord series. This series concentrated on producing fully analogue pieces of music, written and recorded on analogue equipment and pressed to vinyl. James was very meticulous about the whole process of recording, mastering and pressing. However, label co-owner Grant Wilson-Claridge convinced James to release a digital CD, Chosen Lords, which included a selection from the Analord series, with some tracks slightly altered to improve the flow of the album.For the Analord records, James used his extensive collection of Roland drum machines which he bought when they were still at bargain prices. He also used one of the rarest and most desirable synthesizers of his generation, the Synton Fenix, and the notoriously difficult to program Roland MC-4 sequencer (a sequencer with a reputation for excellent timing), as well as the famous Roland TB-303 for his trademark acid melodies.
Recently, rumors in the media suggest Aphex Twin is now recording under one or more secret new aliases, such as The Tuss.
In late February 2008 it was confirmed that James would be headlining Ireland's very own Oxegen Festival. This has led to a mass registration on the festival website with demand for tickets reaching a new high. It was also announced that Aphex Twin is part of the confirmed lineup for T in the Park 2008.
Background
The Aphex Twin name
The name "Aphex Twin" is derived from Aphex Systems Limited, a brand of audio signal processing equipment. It is used with permission, as was recognized on the back sleeve of his Richard D. James and Drukqs albums. He has explained in interviews that the 'Twin' is in memory of his brother, also named Richard James, who died at birth.Artwork
James usually creates his own photography for his releases' artwork. Many of these photos show James' own face, grinning or slightly distorted in some way, as it can be seen in some of his videoclips ("Come to Daddy", for example). Towards the end of the second track on the "Windowlicker" single (commonly referred to as "Equation") a photo of James' face is revealed when run through spectral analysis. The picture illustrates his famous toothy, evil grin (with a spiral also visible at the end of "Windowlicker"). In addition to this, the cover of "Two Remixes by AFX" is actually contained only on the CD, encoded in SSTV format.Influences
At age 17, Richard D. James mentioned these influences: "Phonic Bod, Computer World, Mental Telepathy, Industrial Inc, Tomita, Tangerine Dream". Of note regarding this is that Mixmaster Morris mentions on the "I Luv AFX" BBC Radio 1 Breezeblock session that James' preferred moniker whilst DJ'ing in Cornwall was Phonic Boy on Dope. More recently, he has said that he gets inspiration from "everyday sounds that can be emulated / reconstructed electronically, quality techno, especially from Europe which overshadows the current hardcore pop crap". When asked about what is next for electronic music, he said "acid-techno, ambient-techno".James was influenced by Chicago house and Detroit techno pioneers like Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Other house and acid house influences include A Guy Called Gerald, Mr. Fingers, 808 State, Lil Louis.
Avante Garde music is a big influence for James as well, including Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, Can, Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Tod Dockstader, Xenakis, Piero Umiliani, Bernard Parmegiani, John Cage, the French composer Erik Satie for his piano works and his innovation ideas for furniture music (a precursor to ambient music).
The BBC Radiophonic workshop influenced Aphex Twin, and he released a compilation of music recorded by the pioneers of that studio, for example Delia Derbyshire, called Music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop on his own Rephlex Records label.
Many songs include sounds from and references to the ZX Spectrum. For instance, "Carn Marth" from the Richard D. James Album includes the tape loading noise of the game Sabre Wulf.
Influence on others
Fans of Aphex Twin made an internet discussion list in August 1993 to talk about Aphex Twin and Warp Records. It was called the Intelligent Dance Music List. From then fans from the internet have called Aphex Twin IDM and Drill and bass to describe Richard's novel approach to dance music.Advice from Aphex Twin
Future Music: What pisses you off about the current music scene?
Aphex Twin: Too many sheep and not enough shephards. Let's all sit back and have a long hard think, then make something different! We can all do it, surely?
The London Sinfonietta has performed arrangements of Aphex Twin. In 2005, the orchestra Alarm Will Sound released Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin. The album consists of acoustic arrangements of some of James' electronic tracks.
Aphex Twin has said, "I don't really like rock & roll." Despite this, he has had an influence on rock bands like Radiohead. However, he has dismissed the idea of going on tour with them: "I wouldn't play with them since I don't like them."
The mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan has covered "Come to Daddy" on one of their EPs, Irony is a Dead Scene, that featured Mike Patton as vocalist. The jazz ensemble The Bad Plus covered "Flim" on their album These Are the Vistas. Additionally, Future Rock has performed "Alberto Balsalm" (from ...I Care Because You Do) live as a multi-instrumental set .
Braindance
Richard's own Rephlex Records label, which he co-owns with Grant Wilson-Claridge, created the term "Braindance" to describe Aphex Twin's music beginning in 1991. "Braindance" applies to "forward-thinking" electronic music that can appeal to the listener's brain as well as their desire to dance and party. Examples including Ed-DMX's Breakin' records label, µ-Ziq's Planet-mu label, the Aphex Twin EP Come To Daddy and Astrobotnia Parts 1, 2 & 3. . It encompasses elements of a variety of genres, including traditional, classical, electronic music, popular, modern, industrial, ambient, hip hop, electro, house, techno, breakbeat, hardcore, ragga, garage, drum and bass, etc.Aphex Twin's press
James described himself in the Guardian newspaper as follows: "I'm just some irritating, lying, ginger kid from Cornwall who should have been locked up in some youth detention centre. I just managed to escape and blag it into music."Aphex Twin said he composed ambient techno music at the age of 13; he has "over 100 hours" of unreleased music; he made his own software to compose with, including algorithmic processes which automatically generate beats and melodies; he experiences synesthesia; and he is able to incorporate lucid dreaming into the process of making music.
James owns a 1950s armoured scout car, the Daimler Ferret Mark 3, and a submarine bought from Russia. He lives in southeast London in a converted bank, which was formerly the Bank of Cyprus and then HSBC. Contrary to popular opinion, however, he does not own the silver structure in the centre of the roundabout at Elephant and Castle. This is, in fact, the Michael Faraday Memorial, containing a power transformer for the Northern Line, which James jokingly claimed to be buying in an interview with The Face magazine in 2001.
He was called by some "a child prodigy" and has been raised to a mythical status with these and other types of stories, including that he nearly precluded John Cage with his youthful experimentation using a piano in his own tunings or plucking the strings instead. Some of these rumors are hard to confirm as he has been known to spread mistruths in the prankster tradition making such claims as only sleeping two to three hours a night.
====BBC digital==== Aphex Twin provided all 3 of the tracks, [rhubarb] (SAW II), Xtal (SAW 85-92), and [parallel stripes] (SAW II), in the BBC's digital widescreen test transmission, broadcast on a loop in the UK during November 1998 and early 2002.
====Stockhausen vs. The Technocrats==== In November of 1995, "The Wire" wrote an article entitled "Advice to Clever Children".
A package of tapes containing music from several artists, including Aphex Twin, was sent to the German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Stockhausen commented:
Aphex Twin responded:
====ZX Spectrum Competition==== Richard claims to have produced sound on a Sinclair ZX81 (a machine with no sound hardware) at the age of 11:
====Luke Vibert remix competition====
In May 2006 the artist Tahnaiya Russell (a surreal artist who cites Aphex Twin as an influence in her biography ) won the remix competition in Future Music magazine. Tahnaiya Russell's remix of the Luke Vibert track was deemed by Vibert himself to be the best of the submissions ("Relaxed and sophisticated, but with large balls and huge bass"). Richard James revealed to the magazine that he had entered under the alias, but was unaware he had actually won, and the prize of sample CDs was instead awarded to runner-up Michael Stephens.
This might be another confusion as Tahnaiya Russell's website seems to belong to a real person who is also a photographer.
Equipment
During an interview with Future Music, Richard said he liked using Ableton Live but prefers Liveslice for beat editing/stretching. Asked what equipment did use, he responded "Raveolution 309, the Raven Max, MC-909 limited edition, Quasimidi Van Helden, MAM Freebass 383, Roland DJ-70, E-15, SP-808, Akai S3200, Behringer MX602A and all the Behringer effects that copy other things."In an interview with Japan's Snoozer magazine in 2001, James stated that his favorite instruments were his piano, laptop computer, and the Synton Fenix.
In one of his older interviews in the nineties, Richard said he used Pro Tools and "stuff like that", though he is known to have used Cubase around the time of the "Richard D James" album. In the same interview, he reveals that he has "homemade" equipment which covered software programs written by himself and synthesisers and various hardware devices he built when he was younger.
Richard D. James studied electronics in Cornwall College and Kingston Polytechnic in London. He built his own synthesizers and samplers in his early years, he has also modified and circuit bent his equipment. James also programmed his personal music software algorithm.