A sprawling collection of 38 tracks, many of which were previously only available in ultra-limited formats, handed out at gigs or hidden in the depths of his vault, Music from the Merch Desk (2016-2023) serves as both a gift to hardcore fans and an insight into the restless creative energy of Richard D. James. While it may not be a cohesive statement in the way Selected Ambient Works or Drukqs were, that hardly matters. This is a treasure trove, a deep dive into the many different sonic identities of one of electronic music’s most innovative minds, and across the runtime James explores a dizzying array of styles with propulsive dancefloor-ready cuts, deconstructed beat experiments, and meditative ambient pieces. No matter what mode he’s working in, it’s unmistakably Aphex. His use of detuned synths and that meticulous, obsessive approach to drum programming all remain light-years ahead of what most producers are doing today.

While some may see Music from the Merch Desk as a release mainly for the diehards, it’s not inaccessible in the way that some experimental compilations can be. It doesn’t break new ground so much as it reaffirms how much ground he’s already covered. Even after decades of influence, no one else sounds like this. Even when he’s simply clearing out the archives, Aphex Twin remains in a league of his own.