S-Pusha

INTERNET told me about 3 weeks ago that Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher aka the guy for whom I built a shrine in my closet and sacrifice chipmunks to, is due to release a new album October 16th. I heard this and promptly peed my pants a little. For real, he does some awesome stuff and I was totally pumped to hear this news. And especially since I knew the radio station I work for would be getting it early. All I had to do was wait and it would be delivered to me by people that wanted me to hear it. HOORAY!!!

Now, I really don't know that much about his career. I've read what allmusic.com has to say, and I've talked to some people who are into him. But I've only heard his 1998 release "Big Loada" and 2002's spacey "Do You Know Squarepusher?" Both these albums are very different, with each disc exploring different sorts of sonic pallettes, structures, levels of drill n' bass rapture, and just overall genre eschewing troublemaking. I feel like "Big Loada" is sort of more fun and maybe a little more raw as far as sound production goes. But what it lacks in sound production it more than makes up for in manic, uber-fast, Coltrane-esque attempts at reaching the center of the universe. (if Coltrane had been a programmer and had access to sound production techniques that made it possible to create improvisations that no human could ever come close to playing on an acoustic instrument) What am I trying to communicate: Tom Jenkinson's forays into variations on a theme and rythmic intensity are just unspeakably awesome. I don't know, you gotta check it out.

Anyway, so his new album. I'm just chillin the other day stalking people on facebook when I see that a friend updated her favorite music to "Squarepusher." So I IM her and ask what albums she has cuz I want to build up my collection. She's like: "Um, I think its called 'Hello Everything'." WHAT!?! "Hello Everything as in the new Squarepusher album that is supposed to come out in two weeks!?!?!?!?!one." Needless to say, I peed my pants a little.

I wish I could describe the music in a way that I feel accuratley captures whats going on. I can't, I'm just not satisfied with anything I come up with. I'll work on it, I'll be struggling with it for a long time. However, I can describe my reaction to the music. And its as strong and ecstatic a reaction I've had to any music in my life. Its that sort of life energizing, spirit rejuvinating, self re-organizing reaction that makes everything fresh again. Only a small amount of hyperbole is sneaking into what I'm saying here. You have got to check it out. October 16th. Props to Warp Records and Tom Jenkinson for another stellar effort.