Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin is the primary alias of Richard D. James, an English electronic musician widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in electronic music since the early 1990s. Emerging from the British rave and ambient techno scenes, he built a reputation for restless experimentation, blending abrasive drum programming with delicate, melodic synth work. His music spans ambient, jungle, acid, and IDM, often within a single release, and he is known for building and modifying his own hardware to achieve unconventional sounds.

James released material under numerous aliases (including AFX and Polygon Window) alongside his Aphex Twin work, making it difficult to draw a clean line around his output. Tracks like «Windowlicker» and «Come to Daddy» became landmark moments in electronic music partly thanks to their surreal, unsettling music videos, while pieces such as «avril 14th» showcase a gentler, piano-based side of his writing. He is also known for distorting his own face on album artwork, a deliberate rejection of the anonymity common among techno producers of his era.

Beyond his solo catalogue, James has released on influential labels associated with the UK electronic scene and has long been cited as a reference point by producers across genres, from ambient to experimental hip-hop. His willingness to combine harsh, glitchy textures with unexpectedly beautiful melodies remains a defining trait of his catalogue.