Collapse EP

Released in September 2018, the Collapse EP represents a brilliant synthesis of Aphex Twin's legacy sound with contemporary, post-genre electronic developments. Following the success of Syro, Richard D. James utilized this five-track EP (four tracks on physical releases) to explore hyper-edited rhythmic structures that draw influence from footwork, drum and bass, and modern glitch aesthetics. The EP is notable for its use of extreme metric modulation, where tempos and time signatures appear to accelerate and decelerate simultaneously, most famously demonstrated on the lead single 'T69 collapse'. Sonically, the record balances the clinical precision of digital audio workstations with the unpredictable warmth of vintage hardware, including the Roland TR-909 and Casio FZ-20M sampler referenced in the track titles. It stands as a testament to James's ongoing relevance, proving his ability to innovate within a landscape he helped create.