{{UBE|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = Blackbox Life Recorder 21f | cover = Aphex Twin - Blackbox Life Recorder 21f.png | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Aphex Twin]] | EP = [[Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760]] | released = 21 June 2023 | genre = {{Hlist|[[Intelligent dance music|IDM]]|[[ambient techno]]|[[breakbeat]]|[[ambient music|ambient]]}} | length = 4:23<br />3:32 (Parallax mix) | label = [[Warp records|Warp]] | writer = Richard D. James | prev_title = 3 Gerald Remix / 24 TSIM 2 | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = [[Stone in Focus|''#''19]] | next_year = 2024 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|e_Ue_P7vcRE|"Blackbox Life Recorder 21f"}}|type=single}} }} "'''Blackbox Life Recorder 21f'''" is a track by the British [[electronic music]] artist and producer [[Aphex Twin]]. It was first released as the lead single in promotion of the EP ''[[Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760]]'', his first new music under the Aphex Twin alias in five years since 2018's ''[[Collapse EP]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geraghty |first=Hollie |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin announces new EP, shares first track 'Blackbox Life Recorder 21f' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/aphex-twin-announces-new-ep-shares-first-track-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-3458933 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aphex Twin Details New EP, 'Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In A Room7 F760' |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/33085-aphex-twin-details-new-ep-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-in-a-room7-f760 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Quietus |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin Announces EP, Shares New Song "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/aphex-twin-releases-new-song-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-listen/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin announces new EP |url=https://consequence.net/2023/06/aphex-twin-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-in-a-room7-f760-ep/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramkumar |first=Kat |title=Aphex Twin Announces New EP, Shares New Song "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/aphex_twin_announces_new_ep_shares_new_song_blackbox_life_recorder_21f |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=www.undertheradarmag.com |language=en}}</ref> The EP also contains an alternate "Parallax mix" as the final track on the record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin Returns With 'Blackbox Life Recorder 21f' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/aphex-twin-returns-with-blackbox-life-recorder-21f/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Clash |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Background == The track was initially teased on [[SoundCloud]] on the day of its release, before being officially released on streaming services before quickly being removed, only for it to gain popularity on major [[demand-side platform]]s; a YouTuber's upload was quickly taken down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groves |first=Will |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin releases Blackbox Life Recorder 21, his first official new music in 5 years - then immediately deletes it |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/aphex-twin-releases-blackbox-life-recorder-21-his-first-official-new-music-in-5-years-then-immediately-deletes-it |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Aphex Twin announces EP, shares first new song in five years |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/06/21/aphex-twin-announces-ep-blackbox-life-recorder-21f |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=[[The Fader]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aphex Twin reveals upcoming EP 'Blackbox Life Recorder 21f' on Warp Records |url=https://mixmag.net/read/apex-twin-new-ep-warp-records-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-news |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Mixmag}}</ref> Around the same time, streaming service [[Deezer]] posted details for the EP the track will be on, which was also deleted; the EP and track was officially announced through [[Bandcamp]] through [[Warp records|Warp Records]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aphex Twin reveals new EP, shares first track · News ⟋ RA |url=https://ra.co/news/79179 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Resident Advisor |language=en}}</ref>
== Reception == ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' described the track as having some of the most gentle synth-work Aphex Twin has made in "ages", with "analog-sounding drum machines", "snares and rimshots so dry they're practically vacuum-sealed", and noting that "nagging [[breakbeat]]s poke and prod" with crash symbols and soft, ruminative synths being found throughout the track, with the ending of the track being described as "somber ambience". Overall it was called similar to the track "T69 Collapse" from the ''Collapse EP''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherburne |first=Philip |title=Aphex Twin: "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/aphex-twin-blackbox-life-recorder-21f/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
According to ''[[Stereogum]]'', the track is a "heady, lovely, blur of a song" with [[drum programming]] that encourages dancing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=Aphex Twin Shares First New Music In Five Years, "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2227673/aphex-twin-blackbox-life-recorder-21f/music/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=[[Stereogum]] |language=en}}</ref>
''[[BrooklynVegan]]'' noted the track featured many of the "glitchy" trademarks of Richard D. James music but "is almost poppy, with an infectious, danceable beat that never flies off the rails."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/aphex-twin-announces-new-ep-listen-to-blackbox-life-recorder-21f/|title=Aphex Twin announces new EP – listen to "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f"|website=[[BrooklynVegan]]|last=Pearis|first=Bill|date=21 June 2023|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref>
== Music video ==
The official music video was released on 31 July 2023 on [[YouTube]], directed by visual artist Weirdcore.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Munroe |first1=Jazz |date=2023-07-31 |title=Aphex Twin Shares New Video for "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f": Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/aphex-twin-shares-new-video-for-blackbox-life-recorder-21f-watch/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=5 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> There is a dedication at the end of the video to James' late parents, Derek and Lorna.
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|UK|79|date=20230804|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2023}} |- {{single chart|UKdance|30|date=20230804|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2023}} |- {{single chart|UKindie|32|date=20230804|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2023}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceelectronic|25|artist=Aphex Twin|rowheader=true|access-date=8 August 2023}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Richard D. James}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:2023 songs]] [[Category:2023 singles]] [[Category:Compositions by Aphex Twin]] [[Category:Warp Records singles]]