Aphex Twin Unveils New Augmented Reality App, YXBoZXh0d2lu

Aphex Twin has introduced a new augmented reality (AR) app, YXBoZXh0d2lu, to complement his latest EP.

This free app is now available for download and offers an immersive AR experience featuring the artwork, visuals, and sounds from Aphex Twin’s ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760’ EP, released via Warp on July 28th.

Developed by Tokyo-based spatial internet studio KALKUL, with contributions from visual artist Weirdcore and the producer’s label, the app presents a range of AR landscapes set to Aphex Twin’s first new music project in five years.

To activate these experiences, users can point their smartphone camera at the EP’s packaging. The front cover, vinyl label, and inner sleeves trigger unique 3D visuals, including an AR “festival experience,” a beat-matched cube-shifting game, and an opportunity to bring the Menger sponge cube from the EP cover to life.

Aphex Twin initially teased the YXBoZXh0d2lu app at his performances in early June, where festival attendees could enter 3-meter cube sculptures to discover details about the record. An unreleased ambient version of the EP’s lead track, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 20 Ambient 760,’ was also made accessible through base64 code hidden in the wall of an AR cube at Sonar Festival.

This month, Aphex Twin is headlining three festivals, including London’s Field Day, Lisbon’s Kalorama Festival, and Bristol’s Forwards Festival.

You can watch a video demo of the app or download it for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.