Aphex Twin has surprised-dropped a monstrous compilation album packing eight years’ price of tracks beforehand solely obtainable on bodily codecs in super-limited runs. The discharge, titled Music From The Merch Desk (2016-2023) arrived unannounced on streaming platforms this morning (Tuesday December 17), and options no fewer than 38 compositions that rack up a complete working time of over two and a half hours.
The ever-mysterious and unpredictable EDM icon – actual identify Richard D. James – had launched these tracks on purchasable vinyl drops throughout six gigs from 2016 to 2023, the primary going down precisely eight years in the past at the moment on the Barbara Jordan Put up Workplace in Houston, Texas. The 5 different exhibits concerned passed off in London (thrice), Manchester and Barcelona, with the newest present going down at London’s All Factors East competition in Victoria Park on August 19 of final 12 months. This marks the primary time the songs have been made public on streaming platforms.
Rising from the late Eighties Cornish rave scene, the Limerick, Eire-born producer made speedy waves within the early 90s EDM motion upon the discharge of his debut album, Chosen Ambient Works 85-92. Comprised of seven years’ price of songs he had written and recorded, the album has since grow to be extensively thought to be some of the influential releases in digital music historical past. Regardless of solely releasing 5 extra studio albums since then – the newest of which, Syro, was launched in 2014 – James has remained prolific, releasing a wide range of EPs and one-off singles below quite a few monikers over the previous three a long time. It’s unknown if a model new Aphex Twin studio album is at the moment on the playing cards.
