Aphex Twin

Part II

           

Richard David James is the Welsh native who got his musical start in the early 1990’s as a Dj and Electronic composer. Under the alias Aphex Twin, James founded Rephe Records in ’91 along with Gran Wilson-Claridge. James’ first release was the 12-inch EP Anlogue Bubblebath on Mighty Force records in ’91.

            In 1992 the first full-length release of Aphex Twin entitled “Selected Ambient Works 85-92 was critically acclaimed and gained notoriety for the artist to pursue even more creative endeavors.  It was Brian Eno’s notoriety and recognition of Aphex Twin’s ambient music talents and lush landscapes he heard in James’ composition. Pac-Man EP released under the Power-Pill alias had an arcade theme montage that similar to Kraftwerk embraced the emerging technologies that developed towards the end of the 20^th century. 2001 marked another transformation in the Aphex Twin brand that included many newly developed performance tactics included computer and sequenced music events in a fast passed rhythmic beats that Rolling Stones Magazine described as “aimlessly pretty.”

            Towards late 2004, the 11-part series entitled “Analord”, delivered 42 tracks of acid techno sound that James’ had completed himself utilizing drum machines and analogue sequencers recorded to magnetic tape and pressed to vinyl.   Richard has stated in an interview with Future Music that he enjoys using Ableton Live and Liveslive for his current projects and editing samples and loops for his mixes.