Richard D. James fans rejoice! After a reportedly blistering set at Sonar 2023 in Barcelona, the artist more widely known as Aphex Twin has returned to the studio with “Blackbox Life Recorder 21f,” the producer’s first new track in five years. The new tune will lead a four-song EP, Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760, coming July 28 via Warp.
On the new cut, a straightforward drum groove quickly gets warped as hovering synths enter the fray and a palpable sense of looming experimentation rises with the glitches. Though Aphex hints at cacophony, it never comes, and the track resolves into breakbeat-led pleasantries. A late emergence of manipulated vocals gives the song a haunted feel, the perfect curveball for the enigma that is Aphex Twin.
Listen to the track below, and pre-order Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760 here.
