Listen to the Early Techno Music of Aphex Twin
Contents
Listen to the early techno music of Aphex Twin and you’ll be transported to a different world. This innovative artist was ahead of his time, and his music is still as fresh and exciting today as it was when it was first released. If you’re a fan of techno, or simply want to explore a new genre, don’t miss the chance to listen to the early work of Aphex Twin.
The Early Years
Aphex Twin, real name Richard D. James, is a British electronic musician who rose to prominence in the early 1990s. His unique style of music, which blended elements of techno, acid house, and ambient, influenced a generation of electronic musicians. In this article, we’ll take a look at the early years of Aphex Twin’s career, his influences, and his most iconic tracks.
Aphex Twin’s first album
Richard D. James, under the Psudonym Aphex Twin, released his first album “Selected Ambient Works 85-92” in 1992. The album was a critical and commercial success, and is credited with helping to pioneer the genre of ambient techno. It featured a unique blend of electronic textures and traditional instrumentation, and displayed James’ talent for creating atmospheric, otherworldly soundscapes.
The second album
Aphex Twin’s second album, Selected Ambient Works II, was released in 1994. The album is a collection of ambient and electronic pieces, and was very different from his first album, which was mostly techno. Selected Ambient Works II was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 1995.
The Middle Years
Considered by many to be one of the most important and influential electronic artists of all time, Aphex Twin (a.k.a. Richard D. James) released some of his most ground-breaking work during the “middle years” of his career, from 1994-1996. This was a highly prolific and creative period for James, during which he released two full-length albums, four EPs, and numerous singles and compilations.
The third album
In his teens, Richard D. James spent hours upon hours in his bedroom in Cornwall, England, experimenting with sounds on his father’s record player and tape deck. The result was a series of cassette tapes he sent out to various British radio shows and clubs under the aliases “Aphex Twin” and “AFX.” These recordings eventually led to James signing with Rephlex Records in 1991, and by 1992 he had released the first of what would become four groundbreaking albums of original music as Aphex Twin.
The fourth album
After the release of his third album, Richard D. James returned to the studio to begin work on his fourth album, which would become known as “Druqks.” “Druqks” is a double album consisting of two discs: ” Druqks” and “Nannou.” “Druqks” is a collection of short tracks that feature samples from classic Aphex Twin tracks like “Polynomial-C” and “Come to Daddy.” “Nannou” is a single, continuous track that features a simple piano melody.
The Later Years
Aphex Twin is the pseudonym of British electronic musician Richard D. James (born 18 August 1971), best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as techno and ambient music in the 1990s. He is also acclaimed for his influential use of computer music techniques, complex sound textures and unique sonic palette. In 2001, he returned with a more focused album, Drukqs, and has since released several singles and compilations.
The fifth album
“The Later Years” is the fifth studio album by British electronic musician and producer Richard D. James, released under the pseudonym Aphex Twin on 14 February 2014 on Warp. The album contains James’ selected works from the years 1994–1998, two of which were previously unreleased, and was his first album of new material since Drukqs in 2001.
Critical reception to The Later Years was positive. AllMusic’s Ned Raggett awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that “many of these pieces rank with his very best work.” Jason Heller of Pitchfork Media also gave the album a positive review, awarding it 8.0 out of 10 and calling it “a rewarding epilogue to [James’] already monstrous legacy.”
The sixth album
It was with his sixth album, Drukqs, that Aphex Twin ended his relationship with Warp Records. This double album – one disc of 2-step Garage and one of classical piano pieces – was released in 2001 to critical acclaim but poor sales. One reviewer called it “a work of genius”, while another said it was “a shambling, self-indulgent mess”.
