Aphex Twin - Richard D. James
Warp Records
The fourth studio album from Aphex Twin presents a more sweet and listenable sound while adhering to the inevitable twists and turns that we have come to expect from Richard D. James. It was released on this day in 1996 on legendary label Warp Records.
'Richard D. James' touches on both ends of the Aphex Twin spectrum - both the insane and somewhat sane sides of his repertoire are on show - making it his most accessible release to this day. At just over 30 minutes in length, it's bite size in portion. If you like your scatterbrained tunes - bothered by their own inability to sit still - in relatively manageable chunks, you can't go wrong. Unlike on previous Aphex records where you'd find tracks that aim to freak out the listener or on the flip side tracks that bloom in utter splendor, 'Richard D. James' blends both to create a 'best of both worlds' situation. This album balances the weird with the wonderful, bringing cohesion to further fields of musics more exploratory side. Not many artists can align the two together quite effectively as Aphex Twin.
'Richard D. James' paints obscure pictures - vivid worlds outside of our sphere of comprehension. Worlds where paranoid drum machines and salient synthesizers run the show. A two-party political system corrupted by vibrations. A world that moves to the sound of malevolence’s slow hum. A sinister undercurrent runs through the albums runtime. It can sound as upbeat and blissful as it wants, but the feeling that something's not quite right never leaves. Physically firing on all cylinders, but mentally fading away like smoke rings from a gun. The balance of stability slowly coming undone as time takes its toll. The fabric of reality seething at its seems.
'Richard D. James' teeters on the edge of losing control all the while presenting beautiful and surreal soundscapes for the listeners pleasure. If you've ever wondered where to begin with Aphex Twin's enigmatic discography, this would be your best bet.
November 4th, 1996.
