I’ll be straight with you: Caustic Window landing at number seven on this list is slightly misleading. While I did write approximately 1500 words extolling the virtues of this “lost” classic the day it was released, I am not entirely certain that it is the seventh best record released by Richard D. James. Unquestionably, I think “Flutey,” “Fingertrips,” “Squidge In the Fridge,” “Fingry” and “101 Rainbows Ambient Mix” are stone-cold classics on par with much of the producer’s early work, and it is utterly amazing that, after existing in limbo for 20 or so years, Caustic Window was finally brought into the light of day. (That said, there are a few less than tantalizing duds in the tracklist that probably wouldn’t have been missed if left on a dusty shelf.) But the reason this mythic record lands as high as it does on my list is simple: The Kickstarter campaign and outpouring of supportive fans that made Caustic Window’s release possible is a massive reason why Aphex Twin emerged from obscurity. We are currently at the start of what could very well be the second coming of one of the most important voices in electronic music (perhaps music in general), and we owe much of that to this impossibly rare collection of vintage techno and acid productions. Which brings me to our next record…