Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin is the most recognized alias of British electronic musician Richard D. James, known as a pioneer of IDM and electronic music overall. His sound is varied but typically marked by textured, ambient synth styles, precise sampling, and dynamic drum patterns. The pseudonym Aphex Twin pays tribute to both the Aphex Systems Limited brand of audio gear and his older brother who passed away at birth.

James started his career in the early 1990s, creating jungle, industrial, and ambient techno for the U.K. dance scene using custom synthesizers and components. As suggested by early album titles like *Analogue Bubblebath*, he used analog synth equipment to craft his sounds. This approach to music wasn't surprising, considering James' childhood musical experiments—he would play the family piano from the inside by tinkering with the wires and hammers.

Notably, James is famous for featuring his face on Aphex Twin album covers and distorting it in unusual ways. In an interview with Heiko Hoffman, he explained it was a rebellion against the culture of techno producers concealing their identities:

"I did it because the thing in techno you weren’t supposed to do was to be recognized and stuff. The sort of unwritten rule was that you can’t put your face on the sleeve. It has to be like a circuit board or something. Therefore, I put my face on the sleeve. That’s why I originally did it. But then I got carried away."

Though James released numerous albums in the 1990s and early 2000s, he stopped