Dorian Dumont - to The APhEX

W.E.R.F. Records

£22.27

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: WERF250LP
Barcode: 5414166673803
Release Date: 15 Mar 2024
Genre: Contemporary Classical /Experimental/Aphex Twin

French pianist Dorian Dumont is an exceptionally gifted, Brussels-based jazzman and member of electronic experimentalists, ECHT! In 2021, he released his debut solo album ‘APHEXionS’ – a challenging exercise of solo piano focussed entirely on the music of one of the most influential and important artists in contemporary electronic music, Richard James, aka Aphex Twin.

Dumont’s sophomore album, ‘to the APhEX’ continues that fascination with his musical hero and acts as a musical love letter of sorts – a groundbreaking experience, where the enchanting world of classical piano collides with the electronic brilliance of Aphex Twin.

Windowlicker /Dorian Dumont (Aphex Twin)

Richard James’ music serves as a starting point for Dumont’s musical developments which are sometimes composed and often improvised, letting him find his playing field around the concepts and the poetics of the genius of electro music. Contrary to what one would expect, there are no electronics involved but Dumont carefully transcribes a wide selection of Aphex Twin’s music to the grand piano, giving the songs a whole new dimension. Dumont starts from the melody lines and rhythmic structures found in the original tracks but builds on them, deconstructing pieces and adding his own improvisations.

Lovingly recreated, the songs take on a completely new dimension, and it exposes both the genius and musicality of Aphex Twin and Dumont himself. “Aphex Twin is a fascinating artist and character. At first, I started transcribing his pieces just to understand them. I then sat on my acoustic piano for the pleasure of hearing these pieces that I loved so much only to realize that in the end I was improvising, I was playing. In short: I was having fun. That’s how this project was born: through pleasure and games. The challenge then was to develop the concept of this project to find my own playground and my own responses around the musical principles of Mr. Richard James, in order to make this project a celebration on my own terms.”

Always curious about new sounds and cultivating eclecticism, ‘to the APhEX’ stays truthful to the minimalistic aesthetics from the original tracks. From the unruly, emotionally stirring ‘180db_ [130]’ to the simple beauty of ‘Windowlicker’, Dumont is part of a new generation of musicians who have no intention of sticking to the rules. Dumont dances across the keys, perfectly capturing the mood and feeling of Aphex Twin, where classical meets electronic. Elsewhere, ‘PAPAT4 [155][pineal mix]’ is stripped to the core showcasing Dumont’s ingenuity, while ‘Avril 14th’ and album finale ‘#3 (Rhubarb)’, unfolds with delicate piano, evoking a sense of tranquil introspection.

A1. 180db_ [130] A2. Windowlicker A3. Icct Hedral A4. PAPAT4 [155][pineal mix] B1. Avril 14th B2. IZ-US B3. Icct Hedral’s Echo B4. #3 (Rhubarb)