Richard D. James is one of the gonzo godfathers of electronic music. Always a bit of recluse, he kept a lower profile in the early 2000s, but has been more prolific again in recent years, to the delight of many. He has many aliases, but the best known is Aphex Twin, and it is under that alias that he is soon to release Collapse on Warp Records.
The new EP features five tracks, and the first has just been released today with a video by Weirdcore. The video was scheduled to be broadcast on Adult Swim, but was pulled because it failed the Harding test. For long-time fans, the fact that this new work might be a little seizure-inducing is no surprise. For newcomers, consider yourself warned.
The video and song both go a lot of places, and always with a sound that is distinctly “Aphex.” And if you have missed the trademark “Aphex grin,” worry not—you’ll see plenty of it bursting from the landscape in “T69 Collapse.” It’s a beautiful, glitchy journey that seems to imply this is all, indeed, just a simulation. But what a glorious one! Weirdcore relies on a varied palette of effects that range from “Google street view on acid” to “throbbing landscapes/manscapes” and a reappearing ominous structure. It’s all about the journey and not the destination; don’t overthink it.
If you want to pre-order the album, hop over to Warp Records’ official website. The aptly wack landing page for the new release is itself a work of art. The old school graphics and custom purchase order buttons are totally in line with the usual humor and lack of self-seriousness that makes the Aphex Twin as fan-worthy as the music.
For instance, instead of a dry, all too common “BUY” button, you can click “Give money to afx,” “partially transfer your wealth,” “Bag,” “Casket,” “Low bit rate is not so good for your ears,” “I need the fucking .wav,” etc. The button text is generated randomly, and I actually hit refresh multiple times to see the different options. Fanboy status confirmed.
The official release date of Aphex Twin Collapse is September 14. Read and hear more on the official site.
“We care because you do.” Screenshot from Aphex Twin’s “Collapse T69” video by Weirdcore.
