"Drukqs", stylized as drukQs, is a studio album by British electronic music artist Aphex Twin, released in October 2001 through Warp Records. This double album features a diverse range of styles, including jungle and drum and bass, classical piano, ambient, and electroacoustic pieces. One of its standout tracks is "Avril 14th," which is among James's most recognized works.
James released Drukqs to preempt a potential leak after accidentally leaving an MP3 player with 180 unreleased tracks on a plane. He initially had no plans to release the album's music but felt compelled to do so following the incident. The album marked the end of his contractual relationship with Warp. Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on the Dance Albums Chart, remaining in the top 10 for five weeks, and it entered the Albums Chart at No. 22. Critics had polarized reactions, with some hailing it as one of his best works while others criticized it for a perceived lack of innovation, despite acknowledging its musical quality.
Many track titles are in Cornish or coded, and James has clarified that the album's title has no connection to drugs; it was simply a made-up word. The album's length reflects his belief that listeners often pick and choose tracks digitally, which he hoped would be the case with Drukqs.
Musically, Drukqs encompasses genres like drill 'n' bass, jungle, classical, electroacoustic, acid, and ambient. It features both rapid, intricately programmed tracks with exaggerated breakbeats and classical piano pieces created with modified instruments. While some tracks date back several years, most were new. James noted that the album contains a blend of familiar sounds and intricate details, emphasizing emotional impact over mere technical cleverness. In 2015, he released the EP Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2, which continued exploring computer-controlled instrumentation as a follow-up to Drukqs.
