Aphex Twin: Collapse EP Vinyl 12″

26 years on from the release of his debut album and Richard D. James has still got plenty of love for where he came from. Whether hes living in the Scottish countryside or a former bank vault, the tiny southwestern province of Cornwall is never far from James mind. Hes frequently used the Cornish language for song titles (you thought “Vordhosbn” was made up jibberish?) and put Cornish beaches on album covers, and if youve spent hours trawling AFX interviews on Youtube (I have), youll probablyrecognize the topographical album art asa certain Cornwall landmarkwhereJohn Peel once interviewed RDJ and Luke Vibert. This sort of spiritual homecoming is exactly what Aphex fans have been pining for after the (relatively) drab Cheetah and Orphaned Deejay Selek EPs, a return tothe *Cornish Acid* realm.Those keen onAnalord-era Richard have surely already fallen in love with the frenetic electro beats and slinky analog b-line of early leak T69 Collapse, but theres three more new tracks to snack on here. The 808-mangling post-grime ruffage of “1st 44,”Drukqs-grade braindance rush of “MT1 t29r2” and the hair-raising melody and singular moodiness of “abundance10edit” round out what is easilyRDJ‘s most inspired and listenable work sinceSyro, maybe even sinceThe Tuss.Standardblack vinyl pressing withblack paper inner sleeve, includes digital download for full EP plus digital-only bonus track pthex. Recommended.

• blackvinyl pressing
• digital download included
• music label:Warp Records 2018

reviewed byCow Cud 05/2018