Aphex Twin's "Flim" Stands Alone

TL;DR

Pitchfork reviews Aphex Twin's 1997 track "Flim" from the Come to Daddy EP as timeless and weightless.
The song blends a Satie-like piano melody with playful jungle-derived drum programming for solitary contemplation.
It stands out as private music that renews its delicacy for each listener decades later.

The story at a glance

Pitchfork's Mark Richardson dives into Richard D. James' "Flim," the second track on his 1997 Come to Daddy EP, tying it to influences like Erik Satie and James' 1997 U.S. tour. The review highlights its gorgeous piano and joyful breaks as an invitation to personal reflection. It's part of Pitchfork's Saturday series on unreviewed songs.[[1]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/aphex-twin-flim/)[[2]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/aphex-twin-flim)

Key points

"Flim" features a simple, memorable piano line like a Victorian lullaby or music box tune, paired with virtuosic, skittery jungle breaks made innocent and joyful.
James listed Satie's Trois Gymnopédies among his 1997 favorites, echoing its melancholy and spectral beauty in his melodic keyboard work.
Unlike social rave music, "Flim" creates a private sonic space for contemplation, matching James' bedroom production roots.
Skrillex called it his favorite song in 2011, confusing dubstep fans expecting a drop; it went viral for lacking communal signals.
The Bad Plus covered it charmingly on their 2003 album These Are the Vistas, making it a signature piece; Sofia Kourtesis recently used it in her DJ-Kicks mix.

Details and context

The review connects "Flim" to James' era: his Richard D. James Album from 1996 was a masterpiece blending jungle and neoclassical, with Come to Daddy EP coming soon after. His favorite music list included Ween, Squarepusher, and Luke Vibert, showing his noisy jungle obsessions alongside Satie's piano spareness.

James made music in his bedroom, a childhood dream, which fits "Flim"'s pillowy coziness. It contrasts communal dance tracks—rave memories or party fantasies—with pure solitude, even at high BPM.

Covers keep it alive: jazz trio the Bad Plus loosened it up, and pianist Ethan Iverson noted its signature status. It endures as a direct, fresh experience from James' mind.

Key quotes

“Flim,” the second track from the Come to Daddy EP, is another of James’ achingly gorgeous creations, an irresistible invitation to stare into space and think about stuff.[[1]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/aphex-twin-flim/)

In 2011, Skrillex... posted “Flim” to his Facebook page with the caption “my fav song of all time fyi.”[[1]](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/aphex-twin-flim/)

Why it matters

Aphex Twin's influence spans electronic subgenres, from IDM to dubstep, showing how solitary bedroom tracks can shape culture. Listeners get a timeless tool for personal reflection amid social music trends, while artists draw from its balance of melody and beats. Watch for more covers or James releases, though his reclusiveness keeps them unpredictable.