From PLeXitMIND Sent Wed, Oct 22nd 1997, 04:32
From PLeXitMIND Sent Wed, Oct 22nd 1997, 04:32
Taken from Rocktropolis online: APHEX TWIN'S RICHARD JAMES SETS HIS SIGHTS ON TOP OF THE POPS -- SERIOUSLY Plans Piano Album For Next Release? Richard James, better known as the electronic artist Aphex Twin, doesn't care if his new album Come to Daddy sells, or even if his songs get played on the radio. What he does care about is getting to perform on the BBC television program Top of the Pops and being able to make an album of piano music -- yes, piano music. "I basically wanted to go on TV with all my mates," says James gleefully. "That's the only reason I wanted people to play [the album]. I wanted to go on only one program in London, and it's Top of the Pops. It's just the shittest program of all time. But apart from that, I dont care if it sells one copy, and I don't care if they play it on the radio or anything." Even though the first single -- "Come to Daddy" -- from the album, which was released Tuesday (Oct. 21) on Warp/ Sire, debuted at No. 35 on the U.K. singles chart, James still hasn't landed that spot on Top of the Pops. "It's not fair. I'm sad," he moans. "They didn't want me on there. Fuckers. They just wanted some other shit band on there instead. I wanted to go on there with my bears -- my fluffy teddy bears." These mascots of sorts, which jump around onstage as James is DJing, are actually men in day-glo bear costumes with a mask of James' face sewn over where the bears' faces would be. For his last attempt, James says he's currently working on a new as- yet- untitled song that he says will surely gain even more attention, and hopefully a spot on the show. "Well, I've got the next single, it's pretty commercial," says James. "But if it doesn't happen after that, then that's it. I've given up. It's almost too commercial to release, but I just know it'll be a hit." One of the other ideas James is tossing around is working on an album of piano music, though he admits he doesnt play. "I dont think that matters," he says. "I'm sure I could do something. I used to have a piano when I was little. I don't play conventionally, just mess around with the strings and put things under the wires and stuff to get different noises. It was my first instrument when I started making music, so I really like it. I'm going to get one next week." A piano album will certainly be a departure for James, but creating new and different works is the main reason he wants to do it. "I've got loads of ideas -- that's not difficult these days 'cause everyone just does the same thing," he says. "It's quite easy for me to make things that are different. If people were making really good music, I'd probably just stop making music. That's what makes it nice for me, 'cause I see loads of gaps that keep opening up all the time." -Tina Johnson