Aphex Twin reveals new augmented reality app and immersive experience
The free app, named ‘YXBoZXh0d2lu’, accompanies his latest EP
Aphex Twin has unveiled a brand new augmented reality app named ‘YXBoZXh0d2lu’, translating to ‘aphextwin’ when decrypted using Base64 binary-to-text encoding.
The free app is available to use now offering an “alternate world” of interactive augmented reality fusing artwork with AFX videos and music in an immersive, 3D experience.
Created by Japan-based spatial internet studio KALKUL, the augmented reality app also combines work from Aphex Twin’s long-running collaborator Weirdcore, as well as his record label, Warp.
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YXBoZXh0d2lu features a collection of AR landscapes each soundtracked by Aphex Twin’s latest release and his first new music project in five years, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760’, released on July 28 via Warp.
The immersive experience is reactive to landscapes and works by pointing the phone camera at the packaging of AFX’s latest release - reacting to the front cover, CD, or vinyl front, while inner sleeves unlock further 3D visuals.
When used on a special trifold “anamorphic diorama” inside the vinyl edition of Aphex Twin’s new EP (see below), the app unlocks four track-by-track AR experiences through Weirdcore’s immersive visuals.
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Last weekend, Weirdcore teamed up with Houghton Festival as part of the festival’s extended partnership with sound technology company d&b audiotechnik at The Warehouse Stage. The collaboration combined immersive visuals from Weirdcore with a spatial audio soundsystem.
Speaking about his work at the festival, Weirdcore explained: “This piece will be like a mirror into a fragmented, fractal version of the room the audience will be in at that time. It will feel like the room extends further into the screen.”
Find out more about Aphex Twin’s new augmented reality app, YXBoZXh0d2lu, here, and watch a demo video below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter
