Has he done anything of merit since the "Do You Know Squarepusher" single?
― Mr. Snrub, Friday, October 22, 2010 1:20 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark
Hello Everything.
― A brownish area with points (chap), Friday, 22 October 2010 09:51 (thirteen years ago) link
if you ever get to see him in an improv / jazz situation dooo it. it's fucking cool when he starts playing some wacky squarepusher bass shit in that context. i think pretty much everything he does is worth a listen just not always worth revisiting.
― Crackle Box, Friday, 22 October 2010 13:06 (thirteen years ago) link
I've never been into his jazz improv stuff. If I wanted to listen to something like that I'd seek out people who've dedicated their careers to it, not a moonlighting IDM producer.
― A brownish area with points (chap), Friday, 22 October 2010 13:20 (thirteen years ago) link
tbf he has been doing the jazz improv thing quite heavily for most of his career, or at least since Music Is Rotted One Note, which was 98? 97? That said I know what you mean because a lot of it is tributary rather than truly innovative.
― village idiot (dog latin), Friday, 22 October 2010 13:27 (thirteen years ago) link
a lot of it is tributary rather than truly innovative.
You put it better than I did.
― A brownish area with points (chap), Friday, 22 October 2010 13:29 (thirteen years ago) link
Then again, while a lot of it might be trying to channel Bitches Brew through a bunch of warped-out synths, the man knows his jazz and is a remarkable bassist and drummer, so it's maybe doing him a disservice to slate a good 50% of his career as "Switched On Miles" or something. Especially when every so often he comes out with a "My Sound" or a "Underwatertorch" or a "Iambic 5 Poetry", all of which are very beautiful with hardly anything ostensibly electronic.
― village idiot (dog latin), Friday, 22 October 2010 13:45 (thirteen years ago) link
oh shit I haven't thought about "Iambic 5 Poetry" in YEARS
― O'Donnell and the Brain (HI DERE), Friday, 22 October 2010 13:47 (thirteen years ago) link
one of my all time favourite tracks. first time i heard it i was in Paris, which fits nicely.
― village idiot (dog latin), Friday, 22 October 2010 14:15 (thirteen years ago) link
iambic 9 is my favourite
― jumpskins, Friday, 22 October 2010 14:16 (thirteen years ago) link
wait... which one is the one on Budakhan Mindphone?
― village idiot (dog latin), Friday, 22 October 2010 14:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Has he done anything of merit since the "Do You Know Squarepusher" single?― Mr. Snrub, Friday, October 22, 2010 1:20 AM (8 hours ago) BookmarkHello Everything.― A brownish area with points (chap), Friday, 22 October 2010 10:51 (Yesterday) Bookmark
― A brownish area with points (chap), Friday, 22 October 2010 10:51 (Yesterday) Bookmark
hold up, surely you mean this one?http://blog.nettribe.org/user_images/36/03/413fda2a10b6644c37ccada81f58d43a.jpg
actually the non 1-D sub-Lightning Bolt rawk shite on Just A Souvenir was fun, if more diverting than classic - but still fuckloads better than the tripe Tom's put out this year.
― your mum, Saturday, 23 October 2010 06:49 (thirteen years ago) link
Been catching up with the last few Squarepusher releases. Not convinced by Shobaleader, but surprised how good his Solo Electric Bass Vol1 thing is.
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:02 (twelve years ago) link
I didn't really like either, but Just a Souvenir was pretty greatStill, I can't help but feel he's not really trying anymore...?
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:14 (twelve years ago) link
Some might argue he hasn't REALLY tried since Hard Normal Daddy. I can't name a single release by him which I can positively say isn't 50% filler. That said nearly everything has something very good on it. He's always been in desperate need of a quality filter.
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:22 (twelve years ago) link
Ultravisitor was great but he's one of those guys who I can only listen to his stuff at the time. Someone could steal my ten Squarepusher albums and I'd never notice.
― Rebekah Brooks Hardsonned My Hamster (Doran), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:24 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah. HND is probably his best but Ultravisitor was his real "opus" album.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:27 (twelve years ago) link
I would still go back to HND and Music Is Rotted One Note. The Come On My Selector EP is great fun. After that it got very pick'n'mix until Hello Everything which went back to his Hard Normal Daddy sound for a bit. I couldn't get into Ultravisitor, although it was well received.
My POhowmany (in reough chronological order):
Theme From Ernest BorgnineCoopers WorldChin HippyA Journey To Reedham (7am Mix)Full Rinse (feat. MC Twin Tub)My SoundShin TriadIambic 5 PoetryTomorrow WorldSong: Our Underwater TorchMy Red Hot CarMutilation ColonyDo You Know SquarepusherGreenways TrajectoryKill RobokTetra-SyncTalk About You And MeWelcome To EuropeThe Modern Bass GuitarBubble LifeOpen SocietyA Real WomanDuotone Moonbeam
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:41 (twelve years ago) link
A Journey To Reedham (7am Mix)
this is fucking brilliant, probably the best thing he ever did
Coopers World
my god you're going to have me pulling up Squarepusher albums all day
― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:43 (twelve years ago) link
^^^ those two, along with Iambic 5 Poetry are def my faves of the whole lot. HAven't heard any of them in years though.
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
Iambic 5 (that's the one on Ultravisitor right?) is one of the most amazing pieces of music to ever come out of that whole scene. I was almost upset that it comes so early on the album.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link
Iambic 5 Poetry is on Budakhan Mindphone and has some lovely marimba melodies. I think Iambic 9 is on Ultravisitor, but I don't know it well enough. NTS: Must dig out Ultravisitor again.
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 14:33 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, that's the one I mean. track 3 or 4 I think. absolutely give that one another listen
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 August 2011 14:34 (twelve years ago) link
k
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
yup. slow harmony and fast beats is what's up.
― hardcore oatmeal (Jordan), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 15:13 (twelve years ago) link
Hello Everything is terrific I think.
― Inevitable stupid samba mix (chap), Tuesday, 2 August 2011 20:00 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, it's really good. Just a shame it didn't come out 5 years earlier.
― Post-Manpat Music (dog latin), Wednesday, 3 August 2011 10:52 (twelve years ago) link
I've decided this track may be his masterpiece:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6GYCrEoTPQ
So dense and complex, and very emotionally rich I think.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 19 April 2012 13:24 (twelve years ago) link
personally I lean more towards "Iambic 9 Poetry" and "A Journey To Reedham" but that track is great
― an independent online phenomenon (DJP), Thursday, 19 April 2012 13:32 (twelve years ago) link
No talk about his new work? With albums my favourite track will often change depending on my mood and my deepening relationship with that workk. It doesn't often happen with single tracks. I suspect this one will fit that category. Such a dense mix with dozens of wonderful little bits in it. Current favourite, the warped siren at about 6'30. More importantly it works as a whole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvLAKrVbCBM&ob=av3e
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Monday, 30 April 2012 09:26 (twelve years ago) link
Wow, that's really good. Stoked for the album now.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 30 April 2012 10:40 (twelve years ago) link
Until he makes an absolutely AMAZING album, I'm really starting to lose interest in the man I must admit. So much of what he does just falls short of the mark. Still, I could pick maybe one to two blinding tracks from each release. If I were to put these into one compilation, it would be the greatest electronica album ever, possibly.
― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Monday, 30 April 2012 11:06 (twelve years ago) link
Hard Normal Daddy is pretty amazing
― you can expect punches, kicks and even worse (frogbs), Monday, 30 April 2012 13:33 (twelve years ago) link
yes it is. it's also about 15 years old or something.
― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Monday, 30 April 2012 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah I guess I was just being pedantic there, I know what you mean. Though I would definitely make a case for Ultravisitor as his 2nd best album, nearly a really great one, but again low on self-editing. I'm not really sure I understand what he's been up to lately. I will defend Just a Souvenir some (it really is a pretty fun little album) but this guy has such an insane amount of talent and a weird inability to put it together any more. That said, I do have hopes for this new album...
― you can expect punches, kicks and even worse (frogbs), Monday, 30 April 2012 13:53 (twelve years ago) link
My three favourites are Hard Normal Daddy, Go Plastic and Hello Everything. A few skippable tracks on each, but all pretty consistent (and very different!).
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 30 April 2012 13:59 (twelve years ago) link
Of the ones I've heard, I'd rate em:
Hard Normal DaddyMusic Is Rotted One NoteBig LoadaHello EverythingBudakhan MindphoneGo PlasticJust a SouvenirUltravisitorMaximum PriestDo You Know SquarepusherSelection SixteenSolo Electric Bass 1 Shobaleader One: d'Demonstrator
The guy's just not got any quality control whatsoever, and other than on Just A Souvenir, never really broke out of either of the two dimensions originally sketched out on Hard Normal Daddy and Music Is Rotted - one being his best dance record, the other being his best jazz record.
― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Monday, 30 April 2012 14:35 (twelve years ago) link
wait you've heard all those but not Feed Me Weird Things!?
― some dude, Monday, 30 April 2012 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
I forgot that one for some reason. Yeah I've heard it. It's quite good - similar to HND but not quite up to the same standard.
― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Monday, 30 April 2012 14:43 (twelve years ago) link
so has anyone heard the new one yet?
― That's a pretty funky dance, Garfield. Show me how you do it. (frogbs), Monday, 30 April 2012 15:02 (twelve years ago) link
New one is good on first listen, the first half surprisingly extroverted/trancey, with a lot of bombastic airy synths and melodies. Not much guitar/jazz at all. I agree with the above that he's never made a perfect album, but I always end up consistently enjoying half to three-fourths of each full-length he puts out, which is worth something in my book.
― Michael F Gill, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 03:44 (twelve years ago) link
I like it
― suidavyvan eht nioj (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 04:34 (twelve years ago) link
a lot of bombastic airy synths and melodies. Not much guitar/jazz at all.
Well this sounds just dandy to me.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 10:58 (twelve years ago) link
honestly, the guy reminds me of Todd Rundgren, he's got insane talent across the board but really no idea how to put everything together nor establish a direction besides "whatever will confuse my audience"
― That's a pretty funky dance, Garfield. Show me how you do it. (frogbs), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 14:40 (twelve years ago) link
otm
― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 15:44 (twelve years ago) link
yeah. tech wizard, musical bore.
― KitevsPill, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:33 (twelve years ago) link
clearly there's pretty different expectations for how to use your skill set between a singer/songwriter on the pop charts and a crazy beat music guy
― Neil Young’s social media channels (some dude), Tuesday, 1 May 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
well, I'm certainly not trying to imply that they *sound* alike, just their mindsets seem similar to me.
been listening to the early stuff lately, particularly Feed Me Weird Things - is it just me or does he artifically speed up his bass playing here? Some good stuff on the album but it's all pushed to the mid-level; not much of a low-end, which is a killer.
― That's a pretty funky dance, Garfield. Show me how you do it. (frogbs), Thursday, 3 May 2012 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
aw boo no one like burning'n'tree other than me i guess
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 3 May 2012 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
i mean yes i know it is a comp + new stuff but w/e i like it
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 3 May 2012 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
plus i never would have gotten my hands on those singles anyway.
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 3 May 2012 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
Maybe Tommib is on a bunch of ambient playlists, plus it's short, but Beep Street never struck me as a SP highlight to be standing over Red Hot Car and Iambic 5 Poetry...
― doorstep jetski (dog latin), Tuesday, 4 February 2020 10:00 (four years ago) link
I'm taking a worldwind tour of his discography now. each album has its own vague overall vibe. But each one also suffers from wild oscillationgs between tear-out drill'n'bass rave, abstruse avant-jazztronica and the odd ambient or acoustic tune which would otherwise be considered quite pretty. It's Druqks syndrome all over again - the feeling of listening to three or four albums on shuffle rather than a consolidated whole.And while that tension can sometimes works, more often than not it's a jarring, implacable listen that never really settles into a groove. 'Hello Everything' starts with a bunch of fun upbeat bangers but halfway through the album it suddenly switches to three consecutive tracks of quiet, contemplative ambient jazz. This is all very well, but for me as a listener I'm rarely in the mood to be buffeted around in this way. It's nice that he's showing off his musical range, but it leaves me wondering how wide that range is, when he's released so many albums now that swing from what is ultimately two essential styles. Personally I'd much rather he released records like 'Music Is Rotted One Note', which was more focused on his jazz/experimental sound and kept the ravey stuff for other releases rather than trying to cram everything into one claustrophobic assortment box. It would let his range express itself more.
― doorstep jetski (dog latin), Tuesday, 4 February 2020 10:48 (four years ago) link
one recent-ish record of his I really dug was Just a Souvenir, in which he seemed to force himself to cut the unnecessarily abrasive & doodly stuff and just rock out. I think his audience at large didn't like it but I found it kinda charming.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 14:43 (four years ago) link
Listening to the new one after enjoying his RA Exchange interview. It's really good, even though it sounds more like a video game soundtrack than anything else. There's usually a backbeat or a riff that keeps things from going off the rails entirely into squelchy madness.
― change display name (Jordan), Friday, 13 March 2020 15:38 (four years ago) link
Just A Souvenir is one of his best
― El Tomboto, Friday, 13 March 2020 15:53 (four years ago) link
New album continues my personal theory that you could make a “best of squarepusher” album consisting of only the first full-length track on each of his albums/EPs/singles and it would be comprehensive.
― Michael F Gill, Friday, 22 May 2020 17:02 (four years ago) link
You would miss 'Don't Go Plastic', 'Beep Street' and 'UFOs Over Leytonstone' at least.
― braised cod, Friday, 22 May 2020 18:02 (four years ago) link
Just looking at Squarpusher LPs on wiki, hoo boy that Pitchfork review of Go Plastic is one of the wrongest things I have ever read.
― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 22 May 2020 18:21 (four years ago) link
returning to stuff I haven't really played since SOY (start of year), forgot how awesome Be Up A Hello is
― swing out sister: live in new donk city (geoffreyess), Friday, 11 December 2020 05:11 (three years ago) link
so many good records (including this one) came out before covid and it literally feels like 2 years ago
― octobeard, Friday, 11 December 2020 05:13 (three years ago) link
yeah thought the same about Dan Deacon's new album, I was like no way did this come out in 2020
― frogbs, Friday, 11 December 2020 05:18 (three years ago) link
Feed Me Weird Things 25th anniversary edition coming out June 4th!
― scanner darkly, Saturday, 24 April 2021 02:24 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OySHlQzk8bY
enjoyable
― brisk money (lukas), Thursday, 10 February 2022 05:05 (two years ago) link