Is Richard D. James a fraud?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I've been listening to James' work for the past three years or so, and enjoy most of it thoroughly. (especially his unreleased Analogue Bubblebath 5 and his latest release, Drukqs)

The thing is, however, that I can't help but have this feeling in the back of my mind that perhaps this man with whom I've invested a great deal of respect could potentially just be a fantastic rip off artist. I know relatively (compared to you, I'm sure) little about the history of electronic music, and I was just wondering if there are any artists who were first to the innovations that I now credit to RDJ? (for example, I would think that his Selected Ambient Works Volume 2 is exceptionally original and totally amazing, the only thing comparable being Eno's 'Music for Airports' - am I wrong?)

Moreover, over a much shorter period of about one year I've started to get into a lot of Squarepusher's stuff, especially his most recent releases (Go! Plastic and his new 'untitled' single), finding it to be really, really incredible. I'd easily say that on this album he's been much better at capturing a sense of raw emotion along with compelling narrative than James ever has, and yet I've felt myself saying this same thing about RDJ in the past against other artists. Am I set to find another artist who will top them both and blow me away yet again?

(Another thing, do you think that RDJ has been (poorly) emulating Squarepusher's most recent works on Drukqs?)

I sense this has probably opened a can of worms.

― Andrew, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yes, all of RDJ's albums were actually written and recorded by another man (also named Richard D. James)

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Aphex Twin and Squarepusher (and Autechre) make my favorite electronic music. To me, there are no other electronic musicians with more skill, diversity, and productivity. I think RDJ capitalized on what Stockhausen and Eno did before him, but I'd say pretty confidently (I'm no expert) that, especially in his early career, he was an innovator.
There is definitely truth to the Squarepusher- influence in his later, more abstract work. I think Tom Jenkinson's Big Loada and Feed Me Weird Things releases definitely had an impact on James's Come to Daddy, Windowlicker and Drukqs cds as far as hyper- speed, psychotic beats and tons of variation go. However, James has undoubtedly influenced Jenkinson as well- Take My Red Hot Car for instance, which was obviously a response, to some extent, to James' parodies on "Come to Daddy" and "Windowlicker." Regardless of these influences on each other though, both manage to craft their own distinct sound if you ask me. I think James' specialty may be melodicism, whereas Jenkinson is especially skilled when it comes to rhythm.

― lou, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(nice one Tracer...)

well, i heard the either the Richard D James or I Care Because You Do album once (whichever's mellower)
an' let me tell you it sounded just like music recorded by one Hans Joachim Roedelius around 20 years earlier...

― Paul, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

that's all very well but what about our barbecue!

― Angry of the North, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I really don't like the Squarepusher type drill 'n' bass Aphex Twin has done over the last few years, but not because it had been done before. I just think it's bad on its own terms.

― Curt, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is this say there are only two ambient records? I'm confused.

― Keiko, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Autechre, Richard D James, Squarepusher are all actually Fugazi.

― Gage-o, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fugazi are actually Richard Clayderman.

― Nick Southall, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I loved both Ver Twin and Ver Pusher in 1997-8, and I really like the prep. piano pieces on Drukqs, but I wonder what's made them both go back to mentalist drum and bass... I can't help but speculate that the need to experiment and 'progress' in the studio is countered by the need to 'rock' live, and they way these guys 'rock' is the way they 'experimented' back in 1997. This proposes drill'n'bass as something as 'classic' and 'eternal' as rock'n'roll. And 'classic' is a concept I don't buy -- for either genre. When you've set new standards and been ahead of your time, as these two artists have, resting on your laurels looks like regression.

― Momus, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Momus, I have to disagree with you there.

Tracks such '54 Cymru Beats' and 'afx237 v7' from Drukqs and 'The Exploding Psychology' and 'Plaistow Flex Out' from Go! Plastic aren't what I would call returning to the past, but striving for the sounds of the future. I don't think there's any sense of nostalgia or a searching for that 'classic sound' because these tracks simply have a whole new level of depth on superficially-similiar tracks written earlier.

In fact, I would even go so far as to say that some of the pair's most recent work (especially in the case of Squarepusher's 'untitled') is the first truly original work either of them have done in years.

― Andrew, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Momus, I'm afraid Squarepush's latest album is more wall-to-wall beat artillery, but he does finish it with a fairly straight rendition of Love Will Tear Us Apart. But I agree that DnB needs harness the spontaniety of rock performance, but I feel that the production on Druqks surpasses anything in that genre (I never really recognised the DnB genre). And I should mention that there is a considerable difference between what RDJ releases and material backed up in his studio. He's a legend in his own hard-drive, I don't think he needs anyone's approval.... or the money.

― nick.K, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"tracks simply have a whole new level of depth on superficially- similiar tracks written earlier." but surely most of this newer stuff in rendered a poor comparison in relation to come on my selector, ie 1997 style?

― ambrose, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

neither of them are gay enough

― bob snoom, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gay as in happy?

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nick, does 'DnB' in your comments refer to drum & bass or drill & bass?

― Tim, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually I'd say that 'come on my selector' is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Sure, it's a great track, but it lacks the complexity of the pair's later work. It's a complexity that isn't immediately aparrent, I think, but after extensive listening it's quite gloriously and brilliantly there.

― Andrew, Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

DnB = Drill n Bass, a clumsy journo handle, (I'm sure the press invent these micro-genres so, months later, they can declare it 'over' once they get bored and move on), however it's not as bad as the american's IDM tag.
But as to whether or not RDJ's a fraud.... yes he's a genuine fake. He consistently lies to jounalists and they've always taken his word.
Andrew - there are many other artists you should check out for that early 90s APX sound: Global Goon, Gimmik, Darkangelo, l'usine, anything on Worm Interface / Rephlex. Or... more interestingly see how the genre's are crossing over with House/electro/acoustic/Hip-hop- Christian Kleine, Akufen, Telefon Tel Aviv, Slicker, BoomBip. Perhaps 'Selected Ambient Works Vol 1' should be a genre.

― nick.K, Sunday, 21 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Perhaps 'Selected Ambient Works Vol 1' should be a genre. "

I believe this is what Kompakt/Traum mean by "Pop Ambient". Amazing how quickly the "trick" of that album (minimal but ultra- emotive ambient techno) was abandoned so quickly, and is only now being reinvestigated by a new generation of producers.

― Tim, Sunday, 21 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks for the suggestions :)

― Andrew, Monday, 22 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is it me or are Aphex and Squarepusher moving in entirely different directions?

Drukqs was overbearing; i couldn't get into it. It seemed like someone trying their absolute hardest to invent, truly straining their brains to squeeze out that last idea lost down the creases in the synapses (although I couldn't, and still can't get enough of those 2 remixes by AFX). Go Plastic seemed to flow more easily between the ideas and sounded like a piece of music rather than a demo for DSP plug-ins.

― Barnaby, Monday, 22 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

nick ? please expand on your statemant that RDJ is indeed a "genuine fake". how can someone be a genuine fake? is that like an honest liar? what kinda stuff has he said to reporters that was dishonest? i think there's a difference here between being a liar and a fake. who cares if he makes stuff up for reporters, his music is still original. i don't think anyone was making aphex and squarepusher albums before aphex and sqarepusher.

― dyson, Monday, 22 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.