I like (early) Aphex Twin but to be honest he is pretty goofy like picrel. Early Autechre fits the "what I expected" part to some degree but I want more. Does it exist? It has to be melodic (This is why I dislike middle-late Autechre) but more than ambient techno with some glitch elements.
Tl;dr What is the evolved form of IDM?

check out some Monolake. Interstate and Hongkong are good albums

>>127272466 (OP)
>but I want more. Does it exist?
look into the Skam Records discography, same scene that Autechre came out of, Bola, Jega, they all collabed as Gescom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pooy0LDR4F0

Sk'p - Orpiclem
Sk'p - Eye Earth Continuum
Sk'p - Lotusil
Sk'p - Astravel

Maybe try "ediT - Crying Over Pros For No Reason" its more like ancient glitch-hop but a great album nonetheless

Also probably not exactly what you are looking for, but still:
Culprate - Deliverance
Culprate - no. 4

>>127272466 (OP)
>Early Autechre fits the "what I expected" part to some degree but I want more. Does it exist?
B12

oversteps is late autechre that's melodic, if you haven't already tried it

>>127272466 (OP)
why early Aphex Twin specifically?

>>127272466 (OP)
>What is the evolved form ofIDM?
Drum and bass.

>>127274042
I would guess because his later material has been less melodic.

>>127274246
>I would guess because his later material has been less melodic.
1) i don't really believe that's true
and 2) all the squiggles in "what i expected" makes me think that OP is looking for stuff like Aphex Twin's more DNB type stuff

Artificial Intelligence I and II
u-Zig - Tango N'Vectif
Pole - Wald
Plaid - Rest Proof Clockwork / Not for Threes
Black Dog - Bytes / Spanners
Seefeel - Succour / Quique

>>127274408
I think it depends on what is meant by 'early.' For me, that would be up to the RDJ Album. Try and sing, from memory, any of the tracks from Drukqs or Syro (other than Avril 14th, of course). It's not as likely to happen as trying to sing 4, Flim, or Alberto Balsalm.

>>127274485
B-12 - Electro-Soma
Isan - Beautronics Plus
Brainwaltzera - Poly-Ana
Spooky - Found Sound
Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
Four Tet - New Energy
Floating Points - Crush

>>127274543
yea i'd call Drukqs and Syro late, RDJ and I Care Because You Do middle, along with Come To Daddy and Windowlicker

showing the squiggles but then not wanting much DNB is confusing me. also i'm not really understanding calling Aphex Twin so goofy. maybe in the fake interview stories/lore around him, but that's it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqBrU4igkn0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtZO2vgyIZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVMgoE-3eAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFIoui3cYJs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpsM2KgCRfw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRmwe42z9cU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqbtbGabLOY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmi2WBmVb1U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r_HKFsMV1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFqWQIWzf3Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVS7Hywv8sk

anyone know of some especially good IDM spotify playlists?