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Aphex Twin

Biography

Richard David James, known professionally as Aphex Twin, was born on 18 August 1971 in Limerick, Ireland, to Welsh parents, though he was raised in Cornwall, England. He inherited his name from a stillborn older brother, a family tragedy that influenced his mother's decision to reuse it. James began experimenting with music at age 14 using analog synthesizers, creating sounds reminiscent of acid house and techno before fully encountering those genres. By the late 1980s, he was DJing at free parties and clubs in southwest England, where he met key figures like Tom Middleton and Grant Wilson-Claridge, leading to his debut EP Analogue Bubblebath in 1991 on Mighty Force Records.[2][3]

James co-founded Rephlex Records in 1991 with Wilson-Claridge, establishing a platform for his experimental sounds and those of like-minded artists. His 1992 album Selected Ambient Works 85–92 on Apollo Records brought critical acclaim, followed by a Warp Records deal yielding influential releases like ...I Care Because You Do (1995), Richard D. James Album (1996), and singles 'Come to Daddy' and 'Windowlicker' (1997–1999) with videos by Chris Cunningham. His style blends IDM, ambient, techno, acid, jungle, and drill 'n' bass, often using custom analog gear early on before shifting to digital and computer-based production. Later works include Drukqs (2001), Syro (2014, Grammy winner), and Collapse EP (2018).[2][3][1]

Aphex Twin's legacy as a pioneering electronic artist endures through his vast output under numerous aliases (e.g., AFX, the Tuss), over 1,000 unreleased tracks, and innovations like synaesthesia-inspired composition and lucid dreaming for ideas. He has shaped IDM and influenced generations, with Rephlex championing 'braindance'—a term for his eclectic, intelligent electronic ethos.[2][3]

Fun Facts

  • James claims to have made music similar to acid house and techno years before hearing those genres, starting at age 14 as an escape from his sister's Jesus and Mary Chain albums.[3]
  • He signed his debut record contract while tripping on acid backstage at a DJ gig, a pivotal moment coerced by promoters.[3]
  • James has recorded over 1,000 unreleased tracks and uses synaesthesia and lucid dreaming to develop compositional ideas.[3]
  • His alias 'the Tuss' is Cornish slang for 'erection,' and his involvement was speculated until confirmed in 2014.[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • BBC Radiophonic Workshop - stylistic influence acknowledged by James via Rephlex compilation release (Music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop compilation) [1990s]

Key Collaborators

  • Grant Wilson-Claridge - co-founder of Rephlex Records (Rephlex Records label releases) [1991–present]
  • Tom Middleton - early DJ associate who promoted James's tape (Analogue Bubblebath EP promotion) [late 1980s]
  • Chris Cunningham - music video director ('Come to Daddy' and 'Windowlicker' videos) [1997–1999]

Artists Influenced

  • Autechre - launched alongside in IDM via Warp's Artificial Intelligence compilation (Artificial Intelligence compilation) [1992]

Connection Network

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Collaborators
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Mentors
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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 1992-02-10 Album
Drukqs 2001-10-22 Album
Selected Ambient Works Volume II 1994-03-07 Album
Syro 2014-09-22 Album
Come To Daddy 1997-10-06 Album
Richard D. James Album 1996-11-04 Album
...I Care Because You Do 1995-04-24 Album
Music From The Merch Desk (2016 - 2023) 2024-12-17 Album
Selected Ambient Works Volume II (Expanded Edition) 2024-10-04 Album
Digeridoo (Expanded Edition) 2024-05-31 Album
Richard D. James Album 1996-11-04 Album
Acoustica 2011-01-01 Album
Syro 2014-09-22 Album
Selected Ambient Works Volume II 1994-03-07 Album

Top Tracks

  1. QKThr (Drukqs)
  2. Xtal (Selected Ambient Works 85-92)
  3. #3 (Selected Ambient Works Volume II)
  4. Avril 14th (Drukqs)
  5. Flim (Come To Daddy)
  6. aisatsana [102] (Syro)
  7. Pulsewidth (Selected Ambient Works 85-92)
  8. Ageispolis (Selected Ambient Works 85-92)
  9. Alberto Balsalm (...I Care Because You Do)
  10. 180db_ [130] (Syro)

Tags: #acid-breaks, #acid-techno, #ambient

References

  1. last.fm
  2. aphextwin.nu

Heard on WWOZ

Aphex Twin has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 22, 202506:14Avril 14thfrom DrukqsThe Morning Setw/ Stuart Hall