April 29, 2024
Moby – Then It Fell Apart – memoir trailer
A still from the trailer of Moby’s memoir, “Then It Fell Apart,” which touches upon his experiences in the music industry, including his interactions with other artists like Aphex Twin.
In a recent interview, electronic music icon Moby opened up about the strained relationship he experienced with fellow musician Aphex Twin, also known as Richard D. James, following a joint tour in the early 1990s.
The tour, featuring a legendary lineup of Moby, Aphex Twin, and Orbital, took the electronic music scene by storm. However, the shared experience didn’t lead to lasting camaraderie between Moby and Aphex Twin.
Speaking to Stereogum, Moby admitted, “There was a melancholic aspect to it because I genuinely enjoyed his records. Selected Ambient Works 85-92, in particular, resonated with me.”
He went on to explain, “I embarked on that tour with a sense of unity, believing we were all in this together. However, it quickly became apparent that they didn’t share that sentiment. Fortunately, that was a long time ago, and I harbor no ill will towards anyone.”
Moby sensed a dissonance between the emotional rawness of rave culture and the perceived intellectualism of some corners of the electronic music community. He perceived a “collective embarrassment about the emotional expression of rave culture” within certain segments of the “intelligentsia.”
This sentiment troubled him: “It rubbed me the wrong way because I have a deep affection for underground electronic music, dating back to the ’70s and ’80s.”
Moby in New York in 1993
Moby in New York City in 1993, around the time of the tour with Aphex Twin and Orbital.
Moby lamented the perceived division between emotionally expressive rave music and what he termed “intelligent techno”: “There were these arbitrary yet rigid lines being drawn between genres,” he observed. “Why this arbitrary rejection of something simply because it might hold a broader appeal than the ultra-obscure?”
Adding fuel to the fire, Moby’s decision to travel by plane between gigs, rather than by tour bus, became a point of contention. In his memoir, Porcelain, Moby recalled Aphex Twin labeling him “elitist” in the press for this choice. Moby clarified, “He called me an elitist in the press, when actually I just had crippling tour-bus-inspired insomnia.”
The memoir further revealed, “I wanted to connect with Aphex Twin because I admired his music. However, he rarely engaged in conversations, and during interviews, he would criticize my decision to incorporate guitar into my live performances.”
Aphex Twin aka Richard D James in 1992
Aphex Twin, known for his experimental electronic music and enigmatic persona, in 1992.
Despite the past friction, Moby continues to make his mark on the music scene. His latest album, Always Centered At Night, drops on June 14th and features a stellar lineup of guest vocalists. Notably, the album includes a collaboration with the late British poet and actor Benjamin Zephaniah, recorded before his passing in 2023.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Moby’s groundbreaking album Play. To celebrate, he’s embarking on a European tour, culminating in a highly anticipated one-off performance at The O2 in London.
The passage of time seems to have softened Moby’s stance on the past. While the relationship with Aphex Twin may remain distant, Moby’s reflections reveal a respect for Aphex Twin’s artistry and a thoughtful perspective on a unique period in electronic music history.
