Once upon a time, sometime in the mid-1980’s, a young little Casio FZ-10M sampler was purchased in Barcelona by a budding musician who wanted to make music just like all the popular synth bands of the day. So excited to make this music, the musician named his sampler Jesús.
For hours, days, and weeks, this musician tried and tried to find inspiration and a hook, but failed. Frustrated, and feeling lost, the musician took Jesús out to the curb, and said, “I am sorry, my friend, but we just can’t work together anymore.” He placed Jesús gently on the curb and left a sign on the little Casio that said, “Gratis para un buen hogar. Por favor, cuiden a Jesús.” Free to a good home. Please take care of Jesús.
Unbeknownst to the musician, a young lad named Richie James from Cornwall in England was on holiday in Spain with his family. Richie happened to be strolling on the street where Jesús lay. Just as the musician shut his front door, and, in a moment that can only be described as fate, a hot ray of sunglare reflected off of little Jesús, and nearly blinded Richie. After recovering from his momentary blindness, the first thing he saw was the word, “Jesús.” Then, he saw the little Casio. He stared at it thoughtfully and said, “Little Jesús, I think I may have a home for you.”
Jesús was brought home to Cornwall and introduced to three other synthesizers: A Korg MS-20 named John, a Roland SH-101 named Jimmy, and a Yamaha DX7 named Rebecca.
Together with Richie, the five of them began building up sequences of sounds that had never been heard before, at least not quite like this, and thus did Richard D. James arrive in the world as Aphex Twin, creating a seminal album called Selected Ambient Works 85-92. In doing so, the five of the them ushered in an era of lo-fi, organic, intelligent, and super-freaky electronic music.
In an interview with James last week, I asked him, “So, Richard, how did you create such beautiful music back then?” He didn’t even think about it. He immediately responded, “I found Jesús in Barcelona, and if it weren’t for him, I don’t know that we could have done it. I think we might have even saved the world.”
At least, that’s how I imagine it all came to be. Even so, Richard D. James is a giant and an electronic music master.
This list pits James against a collection of other incredible artists who seem to favor experimentation and weirdness over traditional song structure. May you find joy in it!
If you’re curious about the actual making of Selected Ambient Works, check this article out. Pretty cool stuff!
Track List
Aphex Twin – We Are the Music Makers
Ekoplekz – Black Calkz
Aphex Twin – Acrid Avid Jam Shred
Ceephax Acid Crew – Galahad
Aphex Twin – Gwely Mernans
Squarepusher – Ultravisitor
Aphex Twin – Nannou
Autechre – Montreal
Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy
Venetian Snares – Become Magic Dolphins
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