Richard D. James is known by several different aliases including AFX, Polygon Window, Caustic Window, The Dice Man and, his most renowned, Aphex Twin. Throughout the 80's and 90's James has proven himself to be arguably the closest comparison to Mozart in modern times. How so? Just listen to his music. The majority of it contains such sophistication that it makes so-called musical geniuses like Underworld and the Prodigy sound comparable to chart trash like Aqua or the Tweenies. Aphex Twin never has, and hopefully never will, gain the commercial success his music deserves. My reason for hoping he never will is that he may turn horribly commercial and 'sell ...  Read the complete review

I just couldn't decide which Aphex Twin album to review, so I thought I'd just give an overview of the man himself and tell you a little bit about some of his best works. You could be forgiven for hearing the name Aphex Twin, without actually thinking that you've heard any of his music. Everyone from Radiohead to Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland to Kid 606, have recently claimed that they have been influenced by Richard. D James. In the past few years, the man's profile seems to have rocketed skywards, especially in the States where the burgeoning IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) scene, has taken him as their father-figure somewhat. And though I just ...  Read the complete review

Richard D James, aka Aphex Twin (alongside many other monikers) is a genius. That, I am afraid, is a fact. It’s truth value cannot be disputed. The manner in which Richard D James makes electronic music (braindance being his term for it) is unique. Percussion is substituted for instruments, intruments and assorted noises are used as percussion, timing is altered and generally played with, and he makes tunes out of an insane array of different noises, which don’t rightfully belong in music. The style of music is hugely diverse, the back catalogue immense… I could go on. The man, as I said, is a genius.  Read the complete review

Wow! Richard D. James is the greatest living musician. In years to come he will be placed alongside the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Radiohead. If you have never heard anything by this twisted freak, I suggest you leave your computer this second and rush to your local record shop. Aphex twins music is hard to describe. Rephlex (www.rephlex.com) describe it as Braindance: "when rephlex started in 1991 people said that the type of music we released was called 'techno'. People always say that "things arent what they used to be" well the same could be said for techno. As the years progressed the media invented more and more ...  Read the complete review

Released in 1996, the 'Girl/Boy EP' was the first Aphex Twin release I bought. Like much of his work of this period, the title track (taken from the 'Richard D. James' album) is a beautiful orchestration of melodic strings and horns being attacked by ferociously complicated, fractured beat pattern. The first time I heard it (on 'The Evening Session' with Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley... memories *sigh*) I initially found its extreme clash of harmony and chaos quite funny. However its genius crept on me. Many of his fans purely enjoy the spectacle of his technical abilities but I find his music really snaps my synapses. ...  Read the complete review