Is it even possible to produce a new Aphex Twin album?

By that I mean.. Aphex Twin music has always been unconventional and even innovative, is it really possible to be original anymore? There's no denying Aphex' influence over the music world, and what with the size of the market due to Youtube, Soundcloud etc.. It's difficult to make anything without somebody saying "Oh that sounds like x" is it possible to make something truly mindblowing? It looks like Richard is most likely struggling to make that so, and that he saw this coming a long time ago.. Analord deliberately follows certain rules and conventions, Drukqs was inspired by early 20th century experimental composition techniques.

He no longer has the production edge over the rest of the music community like he did in the late 90s/early 2000s either, you can download VST patches which mimic the exact sounds which took him weeks to perfect, music production has progressed rapidly in recent times and I think Aphex has been hit harder than anyone else.

Yes

  On 12/24/2013 at 9:20 PM, chassis said:

Yes

  On 12/24/2013 at 9:10 PM, Klopjob said:

By that I mean.. Aphex Twin music has always been unconventional and even innovative, is it really possible to be original anymore? There's no denying Aphex' influence over the music world, and what with the size of the market due to Youtube, Soundcloud etc.. It's difficult to make anything without somebody saying "Oh that sounds like x" is it possible to make something truly mindblowing? It looks like Richard is most likely struggling to make that so, and that he saw this coming a long time ago.. Analord deliberately follows certain rules and conventions, Drukqs was inspired by early 20th century experimental composition techniques.

 

He no longer has the production edge over the rest of the music community like he did in the late 90s/early 2000s either, you can download VST patches which mimic the exact sounds which took him weeks to perfect, music production has progressed rapidly in recent times and I think Aphex has been hit harder than anyone else.

It ain't the surfboard - it's the surfer, dude.

I wish people would stop posting threads like this in he AFX forum and just appreciate what you have from the man in terms of music, if he releases something new, talk about it, until then FFS shut up and listen to one of the 1 billion artists doing their thing. 'Mind-blowing' is a really relative thing and most every art-form and artist who produces it utilizes an elaboration of their influences, much like a personality of a person being formed by whom they are around most.

I think the man still has an edge because he's talented and humble. If he wanted to make millions and sell out some hack electro-forgettablegenra album he would have, but he chooses to let his art be what he wants it to be, and to do it when he wants to do it... that gives him the freedom to do whatever the fuck he wants, including waiting the better of a decade for a new Aphex album.

I've been thinking the same thing.

Who is this aphex?

there are further levels of awesomeness but humanity needs to catch up. right now it would be a waste, like giving a 100 dollar meal to a dog. the result would be diarhea and no one would be happy.

So there're plugins for talent now are there.

oh my dear lol fp.

He's talking about production mostly I think, not really quality composition or the "talent" music craftsmanship you're talking about. It's a valid question to ponder, that goes beyond talking about AFX. How do you make braindance/any technical production mind bendingly innovative and unique these days nearly as much as some of the greats did in the late 90s?

Adding to my previous post.

No offence klobjob, i'm sure that you genuinely thought through this matter. But focusing on plugins is to miss the point. When i first heard drukqs i thought, 'oh, he's still using all those same drum samples/machines wot 'ee always does. That's a bit sad. I thought 'ee ...would .. 'avf progress'd a bit'. And this was in 2000 and fucking 1. Didn't stop me being rather pleased that he'd gone to the effort to program it all up with his special aphex spices though. There's some bloody nice music on there.

Progression, regression, transition, perception, meh, my brother came in and started taking the piss out of my post, so i give up.

Live outside of time. It's nice here. [-;

  On 12/24/2013 at 9:10 PM, Klopjob said:

He no longer has the production edge over the rest of the music community like he did in the late 90s/early 2000s either, you can download VST patches which mimic the exact sounds which took him weeks to perfect, music production has progressed rapidly in recent times and I think Aphex has been hit harder than anyone else.

Starting my own mini rolling lol on this

lol

lol

lol

lol

im pretty sure when i listen to soundtracks to movies and really famous tv series, that i'm hearing the hand of master musicians at work. maybe some of it is the iron man himself behind the oars. it doesnt take a sherlock holmes to scan through the dark when you're hearing that certain "yo no se que" if u know what im reefering too.

IMO when BOC were hyping Tomorrows Harvest the first thing I thought was "this will sound dated" and not in a vhs warp type way. I mean guys like bibio and lorn took that sound and took it to new levels. When the first single dropped in that japan street promo and they blatantly were using some sort of basic grain delay from ableton didnt help. I think they may have suffered the most from a long hiatus. AFX ,and again this may just be me but, I feel as if there will be NO gap in production styles. Pop in Druqks and it sounds as fresh today as it did when it came out...

this thread is not good

This is stating the obvious, but I think the op holds too strong a link between Aphex Twin and innovation. Aphex Twin is an artist with a number of strengths, and included among those strengths is writing gorgeous melodies. Those can be in the context of something innovative, but they do not have to be. Remember analord? And it's not just gorgeous melodies that makes Aphex Twin's music great. He writes music that I tend to enjoy for a number of reasons, and whether or not his albums feel ground breaking or innovative, I still want to have 'em. To put my point another way, MOAR AFX PLAZ!!!

It's still possible to create 100% innovative sounds that nobody has come close to producing yet

Look at tac Lacora

  On 12/24/2013 at 9:54 PM, DorkingtonPugsly said:

Who is this aphex?

but he does have a production edge. it's not like he's writing everything on the puter anymore. probably the reason he starting moving more towards modulars and hardware gear in the 2000's onwards, was so that his sound could not be easily replicated.

i only really read the op, but yes. obviously. that's a stupid question. you think he's been sitting with his chin on his knees, whimpering because he can't keep up?

for whatever reason, he's decided not to release music in the last few years, but he's obviously still kicking.

maybe he won't change the production game, but i'll be god damned that - should he put out another release - it won't be the finest electronic music we've ever heard.

  On 12/24/2013 at 10:28 PM, delet... said:

So there're plugins for talent now are there.

 

oh my dear lol fp.

*loads up aphex twin plugin*

Aphex's 'edge' comes from his musical talent rather than his production ability. Analord and the Tuss were original and both enthusiastically received.

Don't doubt aphex. He's the best musician to live on this planet in many years. If originality is his intention then there is no doubt he will achieve it.

  On 12/24/2013 at 11:16 PM, MastaN8 said:

IMO when BOC were hyping Tomorrows Harvest the first thing I thought was "this will sound dated" and not in a vhs warp type way. I mean guys like bibio and lorn took that sound and took it to new levels... I think they may have suffered the most from a long hiatus. AFX ,and again this may just be me but, I feel as if there will be NO gap in production styles. Pop in Druqks and it sounds as fresh today as it did when it came out...

I feel the same way. Also, those more recent unreleased AFX live tracks are totally release worthy and a good time. I'm surprised he doesn't think so. I'm surprised at what some artists find worthy though.

I think everyone needs to accept he's done what he said he'd do and stop releasing music when he no longer needed to.

I'm with OP on this one. We should stop music as a whole altogether.

"is it really possible to be original anymore?"

No, no it isn't. Music is definitely over.

  On 12/26/2013 at 5:08 PM, Joyrex said:

I think everyone needs to accept he's done what he said he'd do and stop releasing music when he no longer needed to.

it can't be true, i don't believe it...

seriously though, if that is the case then i think it's admirable and good that he is setting that example, demonstrating the principle that music should be for its creator more than the followers. music is a unique way of exploring one's own feelings and chronicling discoveries therein. releasing can be beneficial or enjoyable but it also appends various pressures to the process.