So why am I writing about it now rather than on the anniversary of its day of release - 4th November 1996? Well I was late to RDJ, so I think it's fitting that I'm late in my tribute.
I came across RDJ in sixth form in 2001. And I can still remember the first time I played it in my blood red room in Grangetown. It sticks in my mind just as watching Firestarter on Top Of The Pops does. It bordered on an awakening.
I rewound 4, the opening track of RDJ, several times before listening to the rest of the album. I never rewind on a first listen. I always try and take an album as a whole piece of work. Yet with RDJ and 4, I was completely blown out of the water. I was deep into my drum and bass phase at the time and hearing Aphex Twin tear the genre apart and put it back together again was mind-blowing.
The rest of the album didn't disappoint either. In fact it's a classic. So here's a belated Penblwydd Hapus to the Richard D. James Album.
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