Aphex Twin Shares Surprise Compilation, ‘Music from the Merch Desk (2016-2023)’

Enigmatic English electronic extraordinaire Aphex Twin (aka Richard D. James) has released a surprise compilation album, with Music from the Merch Desk (2016–2023) collecting a number of limited edition recordings from the past decade.

Released on Tuesday (Dec. 17) without any prior warning, the 38-track compilation collects all of the music originally issued on six limited edition vinyl records sold at the titular merch desks between 2016 and 2023.

The compilation arrives seven years to the date since the first of these original records – Houston, TX 12.17.16 – was similarly released without warning at Aphex Twin’s first U.S. date in eight years as part of Houston’s Day for Night festival.

Since then, a number of other records have been issued sporadically, including at London performances in 2017, 2019, and 2023, along with dates in Manchester in 2019 and Barcelona in 2023. All of these records had been stamped with Warp Records logos, and sold out swiftly, with scalpers quick to attempt to flip these sought-after records for exorbitant prices online.

Aphex Twin’s London 03.06.17 had previously received expansion following its initial physical release, with a digital reissue the following month adding another ten tracks, and an additional bonus track arriving in April 2024 under the record’s revised title, London 03.06.17 [field day].

The nascent compilation follows on from the 30th anniversary expanded edition of Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Volume II in October. While its original 1994 release avoided the charts outside James’ native U.K., the album’s ensuing popularity and influence resulted in a myriad high chart positions upon its reissue. Alongside topping the U.K. Dance Albums once again, the record also debuted at No. 135 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Though a handful of EPs and singles have arrived alongside the aforementioned merch desk drops over the last decade, Aphex Twin has not released a studio album since 2014’s Syro, which won the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album the following year.