Aphex Twin’s ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’ Takes Dancefloors Back Into Dark Places: EP Review
variety.comTodd Gilchrist editor Anytime Aphex Twin releases new music under any of his many monikers, I’m reminded of the tag line for the Beastie Boys’ 2004 album, “To the 5 Boroughs:” “The hiatus is back off, again.” In an even more extreme disappearing act than the one the hip-hop trio would perform in between projects, artist and electronic pioneer Richard D.
James always seemed to stop existing altogether, vanishing for years into a Glaswegian cavern, surrounded by devices fabricated or reinvented by himself — only to emerge with something new and big as a proof of life.
Preceded by the slightly more unexpected announcement of a series of European tour dates, James’ latest EP of original material unceremoniously announces after five years that indeed, the hiatus is back off, again.
Clocking in at just shy of 15 minutes (including a remix of the lead track), “Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760” is disappointingly slight — surely he was cranking out enough tunes in his dungeon during the pandemic for a new album?
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