Question 1

True or false: The cover of 'Richard D. James Album' is a childhood photograph of him holding a toy helicopter.

Accepted Answer

True. The photo shows young Richard in a garden; the toy helicopter was a gift from his father, reflecting his lifelong fascination with mechanics.

Question 2

True or false: Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' features a distorted image of his face on the cover art.

Accepted Answer

True. The cover is a grotesque, digitally altered photo of Richard D. James smiling, with his teeth swapped for a woman's lips.

Question 3

True or false: He released an album under the alias 'Caustic Window' that was only ever pressed on vinyl.

Accepted Answer

False. 'Caustic Window' had a limited CD release in 1994; the vinyl-only myth confuses it with the later 'Caustic Window LP' test pressing.

Question 4

True or false: Aphex Twin's 'Avril 14th' was recorded in a single take on a prepared piano.

Accepted Answer

False. 'Avril 14th' was played on a standard upright piano in his Cornwall home, not prepared (which involves objects on strings).

Question 5

True or false: Richard D. James once built a custom synthesizer inside a tank of liquid mercury.

Accepted Answer

True. He created a 'mercury-filled synth' for unique sounds, but it was too dangerous to use live; it exists as a legendary prototype.

Question 6

True or false: He once claimed to have programmed a computer to compose entire albums without human input.

Accepted Answer

False. Though he uses algorithmic processes, he never claimed fully autonomous AI composition; that myth stems from his experimental track '4'.

Question 7

True or false: Aphex Twin's track 'Polynomial-C' is a direct tribute to the mathematician Évariste Galois.

Accepted Answer

True. The title references polynomial equations and Galois theory; James has cited mathematical inspiration for his complex rhythms.

Question 8

True or false: He once mailed a box of dead fish to a record label executive as a promotional stunt.

Accepted Answer

False. This is a myth conflating his prank of sending a dead fish to a journalist with his label's actual promo tactics.

Aphex Twin Trivia Questions