Rephlex Records Explained

Rephlex Records
Founded:1991
Location:Cornwall, then London
Genre:Electronic, IDM, ambient techno, experimental
Country:United Kingdom

Rephlex Records was a record label launched in 1991 in Cornwall by electronic musician Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin) and Grant Wilson-Claridge.[1] The label coined the term braindance to describe the output of Aphex Twin and fellow artists.[2]

History

In 1989, Grant Wilson-Claridge met Richard D. James (a.k.a. Aphex Twin) DJing at The Bowgie, a club located just along the coast from Newquay, Cornwall. According to Wilson-Claridge, back in 1989, "the Bowgie was the best club ever...this was before Newquay turned into the Cornish Ibiza" and it was very difficult to hear new and interesting music. Wilson-Claridge and James used to DJ on alternate weeks. When he noticed that James was playing his own tapes rather than records, Wilson-Claridge suggested that they press up some records. In the beginning, committing Aphex Twin recordings to vinyl was a way of making music the duo's friends wanted to hear. Due to their geographical dis-location they did not have access to the music they wanted to hear and so they decided to create their own, and Rephlex as a label was born.[3] Although the label was founded in 1991 in Cornwall, it moved the year after to London.[4]

On a post to an internet newsgroup in 1992, the label stated that its intent was to "promote Innovation in the dynamics of Acid" – a much loved and misunderstood genre of house music" and to "demonstrate to the rest of the world that British dance music can be entirely original".[5]

Rephlex has released the music of many electronic artists, among them Mike Paradinas, DMX Krew, Luke Vibert, Aleksi Perälä and Squarepusher. The label has also remastered and re-released the early works of 808 State[6] and the Future Sound of London, and relaunched the career of electronic duo producers Black Devil with a re-release of their first record.

In 2014, James announced the closing of Rephlex Records.[7] He stated that the closure was "something that needed to be done a long time ago. Me and my friend would have drifted apart, but actually the label did keep us together. It got to a point where I’d actually rather be his friend than be in business with him."

Roster

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Colin Larkin. Virgin Books. 1998. First. 0-7535-0252-6. 285.
  2. Web site: repHlex official sponsors of braindance . 2017-05-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010302124112/http://www.rephlex.com/braindance.htm . 2 March 2001 .
  3. Web site: A history of Rephlex Records. Stuart Aitken. Stuartaitken.com. November 2003.
  4. Web site: Rephlex Records: Recalling Aphex Twin & Grant Wilson-Claridge's label. Orb Mag. 7 May 2018.
  5. Web site: ~~~ The definitive RePHLeX ~~~ alt.rave. Alt.rave. 30 November 1992.
  6. News: Sean. Michaels. 2019-08-10. 808 State set to reunite. The Guardian. 18 February 2010. 0261-3077.
  7. Web site: 25 Questions for Aphex Twin. Groove. 10 January 2015. 2014. Hoffmann. Heiko.
  8. News: Tim. Jonze. 2019-08-10. Aphex Twin: Syro review – a tour through brain-bending avenues. The Guardian. 18 September 2014. 0261-3077.
  9. News: Sean. Michaels. 2019-08-10. André 3000 and Squarepusher collaboration 'will happen'. The Guardian. 11 October 2010. 0261-3077.