Squarepusher - Do you know squarepusher?

ok,
this is a double cd from squarepusher cd1 is studio, cd 2 is live from japan.
this is very, very random. loosely d'n'b based but in the main it's like an idiot savant is running amok in the bbc radiophonic workshop. very little in the way of rythm or tune (ian, you'll like this one) distortion and frenzied percussion on everything from traditional drums to what sounds like a central heating system are rife but when the clouds clear there are moments of truly beautiful sounds here.
the studio cd is probably the easiest to get into but this isn;t saying much (except for the interpretation of joy divisions love will tear us apart at the end) the live is just madness, the crowd oviously likes it, but i think some of it is just a little overdone (imagine the vocoder effect when neo is busted out of the matrix in the origional film going on for a few minutes with increasing noise distortion and you'll have an idea of what i mean).
all in all if you have 'gotten' some of aphex twins more avant guarde stuff and want more then this is something that should be on your to buy list if not then it may be a little too out there.
personally i quite like it but it's one that needs to grow on me some more.
cheers

julian

 

...so if I'd seen them live in the Glade at Glastonbury this year I'd have needed a lot of discobiscuits and or acid to appreciate then??? Is it really that random?

DJ AFX (someone rumoured this to be Aphex Twin?) was weird enough - well experimental and impossible to dance to due to very odd arrangements...

That said, what's the other Squarepusher stuff like?

 

NOT hangover music - put it that way.

Autechre as well.

 

dom,
a car alarm is more rythmic and melodic than squarepusher not as interesting though...definately music you need to think about whilst listening to unless you've take an heroic amount of chemicals, but then you'd be dancing to your pulse and ignoring the stuff outside....

cheers

julian

 

OOPS! Didn't see this thread and wrote about squarepusher on the u-ziq thread. From all acounts there are a few "noise" tracks on Do you know.... and perhaps it's not the best album to have started with. Saying that, i'd quite happily buy anything he's done without hearing it! I do't own this but have four of his others which each have a favourite place in my collection! The guy's up there with Aphex! In some ways Aphex manages to out do him, but in others he's up in front too!

Stick with it and it'll hopefully grow on you!

MO

 

I saw a bunch of squarepusher albums in the shop today, and I nearly bought one blind, funny then I should end up seeing this thread. It was in the "techno" section. Would techno be a good description of it?

I've just been listening to Banco De Gaia - Maya. Excellent chilled electronica

 

Not sure about "techno" Techno covers many grounds. It's pretty similar to Aphex twins DnB style. Been called Drill n Bass in the past. There are some basic techno tracks too. He tends to go for a very jazz tinged flavour. There's some layed back stuff in there too. But the classic 'pusher sound is about 1million bpm beats and breaks over some funky bass with some cool samples chucked in aling the way. He uses the stop/start "trick" very well too. Just for a split second it'll stop then BANG! back in it goes! Go on paul! If you like the MOre frantic Aphex stuff you'll dig this!

 

paul,
maya is just so far away from the squarepusher stuff it's not real but i guess it could be classes as techno - in the absence of a 'wierd sh*t' category. i say give it a try but be prepared it's not bt or banco de gaia. those are cd's you can stick on and just enjoy, the smile just pops onto your face. squarepusher take a little work and can sound plain wierd and random until you 'get it'.
i say give aphex twins ambient works vol 1 a go and if you like that (or even have it already) then try either drukqs or some squarepusher.
cheers


julian

 

gwan paul! try drukqs! all the cool kids are doin it! you wont get hooked on your first time! makes you grow big and strong!

 

I looked for Drukqs in the shop, but it wasnt there, so I made do with that. I'll definetly keep my eyes peeled.