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triachus Grand Master

triachus

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Posted

 

i don't see how it's marketing to take windowlicker out of the charts - marketing is about making money and getting well known right?

 

or ur not saying all the pranks and stuff are marketing or what?

 

 

Fair point, maybe ur right,"marketing" is indeed not the right word. Of course his goal is not to make money at all. (His music is more reward anyone could ask for) But the way he developed his image. Surely made for a very respectable and durable name, or Brand. Maybe i should describe it as a kind of slow marketing. Creating an image for the long haul. Something REAL. What other artist has so many copycats? or has the luxury to truely let the music speak for itself?

Because he is so crazy talented he could get away with not participating. (He got the goods...) And this way he keeps a 100% artistic credibility. Afx is a well known and respected name in all scenes from the Classical elitists to minimalists to mainstream to the Electro,Techno, breakcore scene. He never "sold out to anyone" He actualy made effort to stay out if the mainstream, retracting Windowlicker might not have given him fast bucks, butt stuff like that does make him totaly credible, "2 cool 4 skool". Of course, u have to be a genious to pull this of.

But in the long run, he created a living myth. He,s a genious that already is insured of a place in history. He doesn,t need to push himself into a spotlight. Because everything he has done till now is absolutely timeless and Slap in the face Divine. Time after time after time... U have to be quite good to make people obsess, for such a long time, about ur music like this.

But to create such a media hype about a "comeback for an artist that has not been gone at all, To be the nr 1 act for a massive label, To headline the biggest festivals with a simple dj-set, To make the slightest hint of new music force all different sorts of media to go hysterical, Sertainly requires some sort of ingenious marketing plan. Only for THIS artist the whole thing is an artwork. It,s not just marketing, it,s using ur precence to make meaningfull social artworks in the present.

 

 

what are you even on about? what is wrong with you? please stop talking

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Herr Jan Grand Master

Herr Jan

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There's quite a lot of false statements in the OP, like the notion that he pulled Windowlicker from the charts before reaching #1? It peaked at #16. 

The only thing close to him doing such a thing (afaik) is releasing the Quoth EP and deleting it from the catalogue the day after, to make it more of a collectors item. And I'm still not sure if that actually happened, because the (unknown) source that reported that also said he released the Phlegm EP (a supposed follow up on R&S after Xylem and Digeridoo that never happened).

Anyway, all these statements in the OP is what contributed to his so called godlike status, and according to him in recent interviews he is trying to get rid of that whole myth that he (half consciously / half accidentally) built over the years, which is great because his fans can be worse than Beatles fans. Example: I saw people cheering and clapping and almost fainting during Field Day when he just showed his face when Nina Kraviz was still playing. I felt so bad for her during that whole thing, being put in the corner of the stage with no lightshow, shit sound and the clueless AFX crowd on top of that:

 

 

 

 

WbuvBGn.png

 

 

 

TL;DR - don't take it all too seriously, enjoy the ride but don't forget there is more music just as brilliant out there :)

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When you make a post as long as OP, do you do it right in the window, or type it in a Google/Word doc first? Do you write an outline?

First one: texteditor on laptop to forum, second: notes to box on phone, 3rd an 4th right in da box?

Listnen, i,m not trying to offend anyone here. I just think the conceptual art is very interesting and original. Butt if i,m the only one, thats fine too.

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Would it be funny if i posted the entire thing again??

No?

Yes?

I,m doing it!

Would it be funny if i posted the entire thing again??

No?

Yes?

I,m doing it!

No? Yeah? Oooooooh!......?

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Guest

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Hi there, Fanboys and girls!

 

Our merry ginger prankster friend, Richard d James, The Aphex Twin, has been at it again recently.

He has been creating quite the mythical persona cult-icon around himself! Onwards from 1991 till 2017 he cunningly used the media to put people on the wrong foot about his personal life, and the direction of his creative proces.

Coming out publicly in ,91 as a child prodigy of techno, apparently making brilliant masterpieces since age 12. Putting out albums that are sometimes immediately celebrated, sometimes totally misunderstood at the time they’re released. Only to come to be known as brilliant pieces of music history, years later.( a sing of true sincerity ;) He has made timeless, well respected, unbelievable, mind-crushing music in all sorts of different genres.

 

But, he is not just throwing it out there. He always seems to be creating stories, true and false around himself, and around his music. Always somehow suggesting that this is only the tip of the afx-iceberg. Because; This world is simply not ready for his full genius,.... And (until recently) sometimes implying that he just “ does not care” about the public opinion or other music.

I am very interested in the development and possible spontaneousness or/and the artificiality of afx as a public phenomenon.

 

Examples of some of his stunts, statements or social practical jokes that helped shape the myth:

 

-Pulling “Windowlicker” out of the charts just before it hits the #1 mark.

-Saying he only released drukQs (The biggest thing that happening to music since LaToya Jackson ) because some mp3 stick got lost somewhere.

-Telling journalists, in several drukQs interviews. That he made a Lot more, even better stuff. But just won,t be putting it out there….

-Using Alter ego’s, and also denying to be some of them. Purposely, creating a situation where copy-cats will throw their own afx-inspired-music out there as afx-originals. Leaving the fans to decide what’s “real” and “fake” (Tuss-myspace/user18081971-Souncloud/Syro release fakes etc…I for one surely think Steinvord is definitely afx…;)I have found some "fake" TUSS stuff online of which I really do not know if it is "real" or "fake". I know the correct answer here is “I do not care who made it” and sure, that is very true of course! But I am pretty sure a Bunch of u fanboys have been pondering about this aswel. Either way, it is a pretty brilliant prank to be able to get inside of the heads of people like he does this way….

-Having made loads of tracks together with legend: Phllip Glass only to NOT release them except for 1,

-Suggesting there is loads of “stuff out there of which people still haven’t found out about its him’’

-Rejecting mayor artists for collaboration projects.

-Putting 1 track in a certain unique style on an album next to other tracks in totally other unique styles on the same album (Suggesting there must be loads and loads of music that’s unreleased, because u can clearly hear tracks like these never come as a one-of. a single afx track sometimes includes more than enough concepts and emotion for an entire album of music....)

-Having entire albums just lying around like: MFM, Caustic window LP, all the SC stuff, and god knows what else…. Of which is certain people want to hear it desperately, and of which he could choose to make loads of money.

-Having ur broke friends sell test pressings of some of these records to millionaires for 10s o' 1000s of cash.

-Saying u have loads of “Sure commercial HITS” like Windowlicker, but just won’t release them because u just do not want to….

-Combining Prestigious full-on masterpieces with quirky jokes and phone pranks.

-Sticking his own face on everything, even on his audience.

-All the classic Tank/Bank/Submarine/Lost Twin brother rumour (of witch most probably is true)

-And this one is speculation! But imagine if he has just chucked some “fake” sounding “real” afx or, "real'' sounding "fake" afx music on the web just to have a laugh about the responses on the web.

 

And more recently:

 

-Making a massively hyped mysterious “comeback“ after NOT being “gone for 13 years” at all. ( the man released at least 12 EP,s and 2 albums ;)

-Releasing the cheetah EP made mostly on 1 impossible piece of gear.

-Selling super exclusive 12” at festivals for 20€ , of which he knows will sell for 20 times the value the next day on the web..... Making grown men cry....(inc DJ latté):):):

-Hinting in interviews that there are countless releases to come in all different kinds of styles an also unheard new styles.

-Saying he has kids, and denying the same thing literally 3 days later.

-Posting some music made by above "kids"

-And this last one is pure wishful speculation again, butt what if he for instance released the tech004 out on TechSup. But did not limit the release at all. Making some collectors pay loads in the beginning, only to find out it wil be on discogs for the original price in a few months because they pressed loads of them.(again just speculation;););)

 

These concepts,stunts or claims really intervene in reality and raise questions about the importance of public images, value and fame etc.... They also suggest some kind of musical miracle.

 

Of course to create such a myth around yourself u actually have to be able to “show the goods” aswel! Otherwise ur just some smiling evil looking ginger kid talking shit, and everybody loses attention…. And omg!… does this guy show some goods!…….

Of course music is a matter of taste, and I do not want to compare Apples to Pears ( Nore to any other pieces of fruit, that are not Apples )

But this guy! RDJ! Brian Tregaskin! G to da motherf***ing AK! Made so much unbelievable Lushness in so much different styles it really seems almost impossible for 1 person to be so damn creative. ( I won’t go on about his talent for hours, because I knows lots of u feel the same way ) But to me it really seems almost like a miracle. I’ve listened to all sorts of music for forever, and have a deep love for all kinds of different artists. But ever since i was a little kid afx has just grabbed me, and it has never gotten boring or old.

And I truly believe that there’s even more totally groundbreaking music he never made public. It is like believing in a fairytale. And after the Soundcloud dump this Fairytale became even more true.

I really enjoy jumping on the hype train again especially since Syro, every day I wake up and the first thing I do is check the web for any afx news. I feel like a 11 year old boy again waking up for his birthday every day these past 3 years. Its quite extraordinary that a musician can have that effect on a grown man….

 

Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is that next to his Awwwwww-some music. I also find the way he uses this extraordinary content as a back up to create this unique phenomenon of his public image and creates, conceptual-interventions / social-experiments / art-pieces or whatsyoumaycallits.... And fills the heads of his fans with admiration, fascination and imagination of what is yet to come.

 

Maybe the stories he used to spread about himself and his music are partially true and partially false, finding a way to keep himself on the background. (Part of me believes that every artists cares very much about what “people think” Even though they want to believe themselves that they do not give a shit about it. If u make yourself believe that u do not care, ur precious artwork is totally protected against any criticism. But of course not everybody is the same, maybe some people really just do not care)

But it seems like since his “comeback” he wants to share, enjoys the praise a lot more and likes talking to his fans. The marketing since Syro seems more thought out and present. Even though it also feels very spontaneous and personal.

 

So.....?

-To what degree do u think all of these concepts are constructed by the man himself....?

-Does afx do his own marketing?

-Do u think that all these “stunts” and the things he says in public are all his ideas, and is he loving to cook these concepts up, sitting on his own laughing his eye-brows of?

-Is it al the above just a bunch of stuff he randomly says. And just spontaneously decides what he does and releases next?

-Is there a (Desingers Republic or Warp) marketing concept machine suggesting all sorts of stuff to him, and planning partly his public persona? Because afx doesn’t like to deal with that stuff at all?

-Should Latté stop rambling on about afx and the concepts?

 

 

:datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson:

 

 

Aaaaaaaah? There we go.......?

Still vague the 2nd time?... hmmmmz... alright, love 2 u all, ! xxxx

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beerwolf Grand Master

beerwolf

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I've liked all the myths that surround him, made me like him even more back in the day. I dunno, I guess he just always came across as a bit of a funny character with a mischievous sense of humour, and though he's a boffin and with an IQ quadruple of mine, I can at least connect on a level with his music and his laughs. For example whenever I'm out with the family and some strange bloke is in the pub or riding a bike past the car I always do the Funny Little Man voice jingle C'mon Funny Little Man! C'mon! C'mon Funny Little Man! *strange funny little man squeak*  flol and my folks are looking sideways at me hahah. Ahh yes they think the black sheep of the family is acting weird again..

 

Lets be honest most techno music makers are very dull compared to him aren't they?

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I always do the Funny Little Man voice jingle C'mon Funny Little Man! C'mon! C'mon Funny Little Man! *strange funny little man squeak* flol and my folks are looking sideways at me hahah

Whaahaha! I just send a screenpic of this to my best friend, because we always use to tease his littlle brother with some "come on you LITtLE FuNnY MAAAN" imitations. We would realy realy go for it, making it as freaky as we could..... i remember his parents always looking quite shocked at the time, haha, forgot about that...

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adiscoball Explorer

adiscoball

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I think he makes music just because he enjoys doing it (based on sheer # of tracks recorded).

 

Everything else is just him having a laugh or taking the piss, IMHO.

 

OP, I enjoyed reading your treatise.  I too am really glad to see him come back around and share a bit of himself with us lately.  It was an amazing surprise to see it all start to happen in 2014.  

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GeorgeW Enthusiast

GeorgeW

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Posted

Hi there, Fanboys and girls!

 

Our merry ginger prankster friend, Richard d James, The Aphex Twin, has been at it again recently.

He has been creating quite the mythical persona cult-icon around himself! Onwards from 1991 till 2017 he cunningly used the media to put people on the wrong foot about his personal life, and the direction of his creative proces.

Coming out publicly in ,91 as a child prodigy of techno, apparently making brilliant masterpieces since age 12. Putting out albums that are sometimes immediately celebrated, sometimes totally misunderstood at the time they’re released. Only to come to be known as brilliant pieces of music history, years later.( a sing of true sincerity ;) He has made timeless, well respected, unbelievable, mind-crushing music in all sorts of different genres.

 

But, he is not just throwing it out there. He always seems to be creating stories, true and false around himself, and around his music. Always somehow suggesting that this is only the tip of the afx-iceberg. Because; This world is simply not ready for his full genius,.... And (until recently) sometimes implying that he just “ does not care” about the public opinion or other music.

I am very interested in the development and possible spontaneousness or/and the artificiality of afx as a public phenomenon.

 

Examples of some of his stunts, statements or social practical jokes that helped shape the myth:

 

-Pulling “Windowlicker” out of the charts just before it hits the #1 mark.

-Saying he only released drukQs (The biggest thing that happening to music since LaToya Jackson ) because some mp3 stick got lost somewhere.

-Telling journalists, in several drukQs interviews. That he made a Lot more, even better stuff. But just won,t be putting it out there….

-Using Alter ego’s, and also denying to be some of them. Purposely, creating a situation where copy-cats will throw their own afx-inspired-music out there as afx-originals. Leaving the fans to decide what’s “real” and “fake” (Tuss-myspace/user18081971-Souncloud/Syro release fakes etc…I for one surely think Steinvord is definitely afx…;)I have found some "fake" TUSS stuff online of which I really do not know if it is "real" or "fake". I know the correct answer here is “I do not care who made it” and sure, that is very true of course! But I am pretty sure a Bunch of u fanboys have been pondering about this aswel. Either way, it is a pretty brilliant prank to be able to get inside of the heads of people like he does this way….

-Having made loads of tracks together with legend: Phllip Glass only to NOT release them except for 1,

-Suggesting there is loads of “stuff out there of which people still haven’t found out about its him’’

-Rejecting mayor artists for collaboration projects.

-Putting 1 track in a certain unique style on an album next to other tracks in totally other unique styles on the same album (Suggesting there must be loads and loads of music that’s unreleased, because u can clearly hear tracks like these never come as a one-of. a single afx track sometimes includes more than enough concepts and emotion for an entire album of music....)

-Having entire albums just lying around like: MFM, Caustic window LP, all the SC stuff, and god knows what else…. Of which is certain people want to hear it desperately, and of which he could choose to make loads of money.

-Having ur broke friends sell test pressings of some of these records to millionaires for 10s o' 1000s of cash.

-Saying u have loads of “Sure commercial HITS” like Windowlicker, but just won’t release them because u just do not want to….

-Combining Prestigious full-on masterpieces with quirky jokes and phone pranks.

-Sticking his own face on everything, even on his audience.

-All the classic Tank/Bank/Submarine/Lost Twin brother rumour (of witch most probably is true)

-And this one is speculation! But imagine if he has just chucked some “fake” sounding “real” afx or, "real'' sounding "fake" afx music on the web just to have a laugh about the responses on the web.

 

And more recently:

 

-Making a massively hyped mysterious “comeback“ after NOT being “gone for 13 years” at all. ( the man released at least 12 EP,s and 2 albums ;)

-Releasing the cheetah EP made mostly on 1 impossible piece of gear.

-Selling super exclusive 12” at festivals for 20€ , of which he knows will sell for 20 times the value the next day on the web..... Making grown men cry....(inc DJ latté):):):

-Hinting in interviews that there are countless releases to come in all different kinds of styles an also unheard new styles.

-Saying he has kids, and denying the same thing literally 3 days later.

-Posting some music made by above "kids"

-And this last one is pure wishful speculation again, butt what if he for instance released the tech004 out on TechSup. But did not limit the release at all. Making some collectors pay loads in the beginning, only to find out it wil be on discogs for the original price in a few months because they pressed loads of them.(again just speculation;););)

 

These concepts,stunts or claims really intervene in reality and raise questions about the importance of public images, value and fame etc.... They also suggest some kind of musical miracle.

 

Of course to create such a myth around yourself u actually have to be able to “show the goods” aswel! Otherwise ur just some smiling evil looking ginger kid talking shit, and everybody loses attention…. And omg!… does this guy show some goods!…….

Of course music is a matter of taste, and I do not want to compare Apples to Pears ( Nore to any other pieces of fruit, that are not Apples )

But this guy! RDJ! Brian Tregaskin! G to da motherf***ing AK! Made so much unbelievable Lushness in so much different styles it really seems almost impossible for 1 person to be so damn creative. ( I won’t go on about his talent for hours, because I knows lots of u feel the same way ) But to me it really seems almost like a miracle. I’ve listened to all sorts of music for forever, and have a deep love for all kinds of different artists. But ever since i was a little kid afx has just grabbed me, and it has never gotten boring or old.

And I truly believe that there’s even more totally groundbreaking music he never made public. It is like believing in a fairytale. And after the Soundcloud dump this Fairytale became even more true.

I really enjoy jumping on the hype train again especially since Syro, every day I wake up and the first thing I do is check the web for any afx news. I feel like a 11 year old boy again waking up for his birthday every day these past 3 years. Its quite extraordinary that a musician can have that effect on a grown man….

 

Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is that next to his Awwwwww-some music. I also find the way he uses this extraordinary content as a back up to create this unique phenomenon of his public image and creates, conceptual-interventions / social-experiments / art-pieces or whatsyoumaycallits.... And fills the heads of his fans with admiration, fascination and imagination of what is yet to come.

 

Maybe the stories he used to spread about himself and his music are partially true and partially false, finding a way to keep himself on the background. (Part of me believes that every artists cares very much about what “people think” Even though they want to believe themselves that they do not give a shit about it. If u make yourself believe that u do not care, ur precious artwork is totally protected against any criticism. But of course not everybody is the same, maybe some people really just do not care)

But it seems like since his “comeback” he wants to share, enjoys the praise a lot more and likes talking to his fans. The marketing since Syro seems more thought out and present. Even though it also feels very spontaneous and personal.

 

So.....?

-To what degree do u think all of these concepts are constructed by the man himself....?

-Does afx do his own marketing?

-Do u think that all these “stunts” and the things he says in public are all his ideas, and is he loving to cook these concepts up, sitting on his own laughing his eye-brows of?

-Is it al the above just a bunch of stuff he randomly says. And just spontaneously decides what he does and releases next?

-Is there a (Desingers Republic or Warp) marketing concept machine suggesting all sorts of stuff to him, and planning partly his public persona? Because afx doesn’t like to deal with that stuff at all?

-Should Latté stop rambling on about afx and the concepts?

 

 

:datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson:

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GeorgeW Enthusiast

GeorgeW

Posted
Posted

 

Hi there, Fanboys and girls!

 

i got quite a tuss while readin this

 

 

 

Our merry ginger prankster friend, Richard d James, The Aphex Twin, has been at it again recently.

He has been creating quite the mythical persona cult-icon around himself! Onwards from 1991 till 2017 he cunningly used the media to put people on the wrong foot about his personal life, and the direction of his creative proces.

Coming out publicly in ,91 as a child prodigy of techno, apparently making brilliant masterpieces since age 12. Putting out albums that are sometimes immediately celebrated, sometimes totally misunderstood at the time they’re released. Only to come to be known as brilliant pieces of music history, years later.( a sing of true sincerity ;) He has made timeless, well respected, unbelievable, mind-crushing music in all sorts of different genres.

 

But, he is not just throwing it out there. He always seems to be creating stories, true and false around himself, and around his music. Always somehow suggesting that this is only the tip of the afx-iceberg. Because; This world is simply not ready for his full genius,.... And (until recently) sometimes implying that he just “ does not care” about the public opinion or other music.

I am very interested in the development and possible spontaneousness or/and the artificiality of afx as a public phenomenon.

 

Examples of some of his stunts, statements or social practical jokes that helped shape the myth:

 

-Pulling “Windowlicker” out of the charts just before it hits the #1 mark.

-Saying he only released drukQs (The biggest thing that happening to music since LaToya Jackson ) because some mp3 stick got lost somewhere.

-Telling journalists, in several drukQs interviews. That he made a Lot more, even better stuff. But just won,t be putting it out there….

-Using Alter ego’s, and also denying to be some of them. Purposely, creating a situation where copy-cats will throw their own afx-inspired-music out there as afx-originals. Leaving the fans to decide what’s “real” and “fake” (Tuss-myspace/user18081971-Souncloud/Syro release fakes etc…I for one surely think Steinvord is definitely afx…;)I have found some "fake" TUSS stuff online of which I really do not know if it is "real" or "fake". I know the correct answer here is “I do not care who made it” and sure, that is very true of course! But I am pretty sure a Bunch of u fanboys have been pondering about this aswel. Either way, it is a pretty brilliant prank to be able to get inside of the heads of people like he does this way….

-Having made loads of tracks together with legend: Phllip Glass only to NOT release them except for 1,

-Suggesting there is loads of “stuff out there of which people still haven’t found out about its him’’

-Rejecting mayor artists for collaboration projects.

-Putting 1 track in a certain unique style on an album next to other tracks in totally other unique styles on the same album (Suggesting there must be loads and loads of music that’s unreleased, because u can clearly hear tracks like these never come as a one-of. a single afx track sometimes includes more than enough concepts and emotion for an entire album of music....)

-Having entire albums just lying around like: MFM, Caustic window LP, all the SC stuff, and god knows what else…. Of which is certain people want to hear it desperately, and of which he could choose to make loads of money.

-Having ur broke friends sell test pressings of some of these records to millionaires for 10s o' 1000s of cash.

-Saying u have loads of “Sure commercial HITS” like Windowlicker, but just won’t release them because u just do not want to….

-Combining Prestigious full-on masterpieces with quirky jokes and phone pranks.

-Sticking his own face on everything, even on his audience.

-All the classic Tank/Bank/Submarine/Lost Twin brother rumour (of witch most probably is true)

-And this one is speculation! But imagine if he has just chucked some “fake” sounding “real” afx or, "real'' sounding "fake" afx music on the web just to have a laugh about the responses on the web.

 

And more recently:

 

-Making a massively hyped mysterious “comeback“ after NOT being “gone for 13 years” at all. ( the man released at least 12 EP,s and 2 albums ;)

-Releasing the cheetah EP made mostly on 1 impossible piece of gear.

-Selling super exclusive 12” at festivals for 20€ , of which he knows will sell for 20 times the value the next day on the web..... Making grown men cry....(inc DJ latté):):):

-Hinting in interviews that there are countless releases to come in all different kinds of styles an also unheard new styles.

-Saying he has kids, and denying the same thing literally 3 days later.

-Posting some music made by above "kids"

-And this last one is pure wishful speculation again, butt what if he for instance released the tech004 out on TechSup. But did not limit the release at all. Making some collectors pay loads in the beginning, only to find out it wil be on discogs for the original price in a few months because they pressed loads of them.(again just speculation;););)

 

These concepts,stunts or claims really intervene in reality and raise questions about the importance of public images, value and fame etc.... They also suggest some kind of musical miracle.

 

Of course to create such a myth around yourself u actually have to be able to “show the goods” aswel! Otherwise ur just some smiling evil looking ginger kid talking shit, and everybody loses attention…. And omg!… does this guy show some goods!…….

Of course music is a matter of taste, and I do not want to compare Apples to Pears ( Nore to any other pieces of fruit, that are not Apples )

But this guy! RDJ! Brian Tregaskin! G to da motherf***ing AK! Made so much unbelievable Lushness in so much different styles it really seems almost impossible for 1 person to be so damn creative. ( I won’t go on about his talent for hours, because I knows lots of u feel the same way ) But to me it really seems almost like a miracle. I’ve listened to all sorts of music for forever, and have a deep love for all kinds of different artists. But ever since i was a little kid afx has just grabbed me, and it has never gotten boring or old.

And I truly believe that there’s even more totally groundbreaking music he never made public. It is like believing in a fairytale. And after the Soundcloud dump this Fairytale became even more true.

I really enjoy jumping on the hype train again especially since Syro, every day I wake up and the first thing I do is check the web for any afx news. I feel like a 11 year old boy again waking up for his birthday every day these past 3 years. Its quite extraordinary that a musician can have that effect on a grown man….

 

Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is that next to his Awwwwww-some music. I also find the way he uses this extraordinary content as a back up to create this unique phenomenon of his public image and creates, conceptual-interventions / social-experiments / art-pieces or whatsyoumaycallits.... And fills the heads of his fans with admiration, fascination and imagination of what is yet to come.

 

Maybe the stories he used to spread about himself and his music are partially true and partially false, finding a way to keep himself on the background. (Part of me believes that every artists cares very much about what “people think” Even though they want to believe themselves that they do not give a shit about it. If u make yourself believe that u do not care, ur precious artwork is totally protected against any criticism. But of course not everybody is the same, maybe some people really just do not care)

But it seems like since his “comeback” he wants to share, enjoys the praise a lot more and likes talking to his fans. The marketing since Syro seems more thought out and present. Even though it also feels very spontaneous and personal.

 

So.....?

-To what degree do u think all of these concepts are constructed by the man himself....?

-Does afx do his own marketing?

-Do u think that all these “stunts” and the things he says in public are all his ideas, and is he loving to cook these concepts up, sitting on his own laughing his eye-brows of?

-Is it al the above just a bunch of stuff he randomly says. And just spontaneously decides what he does and releases next?

-Is there a (Desingers Republic or Warp) marketing concept machine suggesting all sorts of stuff to him, and planning partly his public persona? Because afx doesn’t like to deal with that stuff at all?

-Should Latté stop rambling on about afx and the concepts?

 

 

:datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson:

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GeorgeW Enthusiast

GeorgeW

Posted
Posted

 

 

Hi there, Fanboys and girls!

 

i got quite a tuss while readin this

 

 

 

Our merry ginger prankster friend, Richard d James, The Aphex Twin, has been at it again recently.

He has been creating quite the mythical persona cult-icon around himself! Onwards from 1991 till 2017 he cunningly used the media to put people on the wrong foot about his personal life, and the direction of his creative proces.

Coming out publicly in ,91 as a child prodigy of techno, apparently making brilliant masterpieces since age 12. Putting out albums that are sometimes immediately celebrated, sometimes totally misunderstood at the time they’re released. Only to come to be known as brilliant pieces of music history, years later.( a sing of true sincerity ;) He has made timeless, well respected, unbelievable, mind-crushing music in all sorts of different genres.

 

But, he is not just throwing it out there. He always seems to be creating stories, true and false around himself, and around his music. Always somehow suggesting that this is only the tip of the afx-iceberg. Because; This world is simply not ready for his full genius,.... And (until recently) sometimes implying that he just “ does not care” about the public opinion or other music.

I am very interested in the development and possible spontaneousness or/and the artificiality of afx as a public phenomenon.

 

Examples of some of his stunts, statements or social practical jokes that helped shape the myth:

 

-Pulling “Windowlicker” out of the charts just before it hits the #1 mark.

-Saying he only released drukQs (The biggest thing that happening to music since LaToya Jackson ) because some mp3 stick got lost somewhere.

-Telling journalists, in several drukQs interviews. That he made a Lot more, even better stuff. But just won,t be putting it out there….

-Using Alter ego’s, and also denying to be some of them. Purposely, creating a situation where copy-cats will throw their own afx-inspired-music out there as afx-originals. Leaving the fans to decide what’s “real” and “fake” (Tuss-myspace/user18081971-Souncloud/Syro release fakes etc…I for one surely think Steinvord is definitely afx…;)I have found some "fake" TUSS stuff online of which I really do not know if it is "real" or "fake". I know the correct answer here is “I do not care who made it” and sure, that is very true of course! But I am pretty sure a Bunch of u fanboys have been pondering about this aswel. Either way, it is a pretty brilliant prank to be able to get inside of the heads of people like he does this way….

-Having made loads of tracks together with legend: Phllip Glass only to NOT release them except for 1,

-Suggesting there is loads of “stuff out there of which people still haven’t found out about its him’’

-Rejecting mayor artists for collaboration projects.

-Putting 1 track in a certain unique style on an album next to other tracks in totally other unique styles on the same album (Suggesting there must be loads and loads of music that’s unreleased, because u can clearly hear tracks like these never come as a one-of. a single afx track sometimes includes more than enough concepts and emotion for an entire album of music....)

-Having entire albums just lying around like: MFM, Caustic window LP, all the SC stuff, and god knows what else…. Of which is certain people want to hear it desperately, and of which he could choose to make loads of money.

-Having ur broke friends sell test pressings of some of these records to millionaires for 10s o' 1000s of cash.

-Saying u have loads of “Sure commercial HITS” like Windowlicker, but just won’t release them because u just do not want to….

-Combining Prestigious full-on masterpieces with quirky jokes and phone pranks.

-Sticking his own face on everything, even on his audience.

-All the classic Tank/Bank/Submarine/Lost Twin brother rumour (of witch most probably is true)

-And this one is speculation! But imagine if he has just chucked some “fake” sounding “real” afx or, "real'' sounding "fake" afx music on the web just to have a laugh about the responses on the web.

 

And more recently:

 

-Making a massively hyped mysterious “comeback“ after NOT being “gone for 13 years” at all. ( the man released at least 12 EP,s and 2 albums ;)

-Releasing the cheetah EP made mostly on 1 impossible piece of gear.

-Selling super exclusive 12” at festivals for 20€ , of which he knows will sell for 20 times the value the next day on the web..... Making grown men cry....(inc DJ latté):):):

-Hinting in interviews that there are countless releases to come in all different kinds of styles an also unheard new styles.

-Saying he has kids, and denying the same thing literally 3 days later.

-Posting some music made by above "kids"

-And this last one is pure wishful speculation again, butt what if he for instance released the tech004 out on TechSup. But did not limit the release at all. Making some collectors pay loads in the beginning, only to find out it wil be on discogs for the original price in a few months because they pressed loads of them.(again just speculation;););)

 

These concepts,stunts or claims really intervene in reality and raise questions about the importance of public images, value and fame etc.... They also suggest some kind of musical miracle.

 

Of course to create such a myth around yourself u actually have to be able to “show the goods” aswel! Otherwise ur just some smiling evil looking ginger kid talking shit, and everybody loses attention…. And omg!… does this guy show some goods!…….

Of course music is a matter of taste, and I do not want to compare Apples to Pears ( Nore to any other pieces of fruit, that are not Apples )

But this guy! RDJ! Brian Tregaskin! G to da motherf***ing AK! Made so much unbelievable Lushness in so much different styles it really seems almost impossible for 1 person to be so damn creative. ( I won’t go on about his talent for hours, because I knows lots of u feel the same way ) But to me it really seems almost like a miracle. I’ve listened to all sorts of music for forever, and have a deep love for all kinds of different artists. But ever since i was a little kid afx has just grabbed me, and it has never gotten boring or old.

And I truly believe that there’s even more totally groundbreaking music he never made public. It is like believing in a fairytale. And after the Soundcloud dump this Fairytale became even more true.

I really enjoy jumping on the hype train again especially since Syro, every day I wake up and the first thing I do is check the web for any afx news. I feel like a 11 year old boy again waking up for his birthday every day these past 3 years. Its quite extraordinary that a musician can have that effect on a grown man….

 

Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is that next to his Awwwwww-some music. I also find the way he uses this extraordinary content as a back up to create this unique phenomenon of his public image and creates, conceptual-interventions / social-experiments / art-pieces or whatsyoumaycallits.... And fills the heads of his fans with admiration, fascination and imagination of what is yet to come.

 

Maybe the stories he used to spread about himself and his music are partially true and partially false, finding a way to keep himself on the background. (Part of me believes that every artists cares very much about what “people think” Even though they want to believe themselves that they do not give a shit about it. If u make yourself believe that u do not care, ur precious artwork is totally protected against any criticism. But of course not everybody is the same, maybe some people really just do not care)

But it seems like since his “comeback” he wants to share, enjoys the praise a lot more and likes talking to his fans. The marketing since Syro seems more thought out and present. Even though it also feels very spontaneous and personal.

 

So.....?

-To what degree do u think all of these concepts are constructed by the man himself....?

-Does afx do his own marketing?

-Do u think that all these “stunts” and the things he says in public are all his ideas, and is he loving to cook these concepts up, sitting on his own laughing his eye-brows of?

-Is it al the above just a bunch of stuff he randomly says. And just spontaneously decides what he does and releases next?

-Is there a (Desingers Republic or Warp) marketing concept machine suggesting all sorts of stuff to him, and planning partly his public persona? Because afx doesn’t like to deal with that stuff at all?

-Should Latté stop rambling on about afx and the concepts?

 

 

:datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson::datboi::nelson:

Acid

 

 

 

Sorry

Acid

 

 

 

Sorry

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