Aphex Twin "Drukqs"
"Drukqs" is the fifth studio album by Aphex Twin, the alias of British electronic musician Richard D. James, which was released in 2001 on Warp. The album is a double album that alternates primarily between tracks of meticulously programmed drum and bass-inspired beats and computer-controlled classical piano pieces. It features the piano composition "Avril 14th", one of Aphex Twin's most well-known recordings.
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"Drukqs" is the fifth studio album by Aphex Twin, the alias of British electronic musician Richard D. James, which was released in 2001 on Warp. The album is a double album that alternates primarily between tracks of meticulously programmed drum and bass-inspired beats and computer-controlled classical piano pieces. It features the piano composition "Avril 14th", one of Aphex Twin's most well-known recordings.
"Drukqs" received a divided reception upon its release, with many critics dismissing it as inferior to his earlier works. The album peaked at number 22 on the UK Albums Chart. Aphex Twin did not release another album under the Aphex Twin alias until Syro in 2014. James decided to release "Drukqs" primarily to circumvent a potential leak after he accidentally left behind an MP3 player containing 180 of his unreleased tracks on a plane while traveling to Scotland. He intended it to be his final release as part of his contractual obligation to Warp.
Many of the track names on the album are written in Cornish or are coded titles. Aphex Twin stated that the title is not related to drugs and is "just a word he made up". "Drukqs" contains tracks dating back "seven or eight years", according to Aphex Twin, though most of the album was relatively new. The LP is a double album featuring roughly two styles: rapid, meticulously-programmed tracks utilizing exaggerated drum 'n' bass breakbeats, and classical piano pieces made using computer-controlled instruments. The album has been described as switching restlessly from his most acidic drill 'n' bass yet to incredibly lavish prepared piano pieces inspired by John Cage, the album moves through techno, drum 'n' bass, and early-90s rave, while the piano interludes were compared to the work of Erik Satie.
"Drukqs" is among Aphex Twin's most divisive releases, with some critics praising it while others criticized it as unimpressive and trapped by the potential for infinitesimal tweakage. In 2015, Aphex Twin released the EP "Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2", featuring further computer-controlled instrumental tracks, as a sequel to "Drukqs".
