Welcome to the 126th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we dive into various ambient works by Aphex Twin, exploring fashion’s mysterious obsession with all things Richard James.
Despite an unparalleled detest for media, 13 year hiatus, and overtly experimental discography, Aphex Twin continues to resonate with fashion’s youth. As a highly introverted personality, Richard James stands as the sole face behind Aphex Twin, shadowed in a blanket of distortion. Resenting infamy, his ties with the couture world are epitomized by an anamorphic logo, reinterpreted atop knits, tees and scultuparal entities alike.
Before the fame, James was a pioneer in ‘intelligent’ techno music, known only in the underground scene as a wildly experimental persona. Having DJ’d at alternative clubs and parties throughout the late 80s, Twin would release his first EP ‘Analogue Bubblebath’ in 1991, followed by his debut album ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’ that next year. The project’s cover would showcase what has now become Aphex Twin’s infamous motif, laying the groundwork for James’ long-standing reign.
Having amassed a cult-like following, listeners became progressively infatuated with not only the music, but in Richard James himself. As a reserved creative, the musician opted to reveal very little, only providing insight when forced in interviews and press events alike. Over the years however, few of James' artistic techniques have surfaced, but are often disputed as a result of sporadic half-truths, where he would contort his words, or simply lie when bored.
While polarizing in medium, Aphex Twin shares rebellious similarities with anti-fashion protagonists who simply refused to conform. Among stand-outs like Kurt Cobain, Malcolm McLaren, or perhaps Yohji Yamamoto, Richard James is the anarchist of IDM. Celebrated today in the fashion world for his acute design literacy, Twin, among his eponymous logo, are a symbol of defiance and innovation, produced decades ago, yet maintaining a futuristic sound in the modern era.
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