For whatever reason, Jenkinson seems to be moving his percussive elements
out of the spotlight in his recordings. I've noticed fewer layers where his
drums are concerned. They've been noticeably cleaner, the samples less
varied, and the glitch FX less present.
When I first heard Ufabulum, I was a bit disappointed. The compositions
sounded almost like what I wanted/expected, but there was something missing.
Then I saw Squarepusher perform that album live, and everything came
together. It was the perfect cavalcade of glitched-out, blissful craziness
that I expected. What was different? What did he add to the equation that
was missing on the album itself?
Turns out, it was Jenkinson, sweeping filters, retriggering samples,
crushing bits, and just generally fucking shit up. (in a good way) What is
missing, I think, from his recent tracks, is this element of live-ness. To
quote Wikipedia quoting him discussing Ufabulum:
*"It's music which is generated purely from programming...there's nothing
in it which is live, really at all."*
Perhaps the Daft-Punk-looking welding helmet was an omen. In the same way
that I find their music most palatable on albums like "Alive," perhaps
Jenkinson's recent work is designed to be performed. Until there's Tom
smashing away on his FSU programs, disassembling and reassembling the music
according to his whims, it's slightly undercooked.
This weird, floppy, slightly moist IDM pizza is okay; certainly enjoyable,
but I miss the old, crispy, thin crust version.
Or maybe drill 'n' bass is just dead. Who knows?
On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 9:45 AM Dan S <danstowell+idm@gmail.com> wrote:
quoted 64 lines lovely bit of europop imho
> lovely bit of europop imho
>
> 2015-03-24 13:35 GMT+00:00 CRAIG SIMPSON <craignorms@hotmail.com>:
> > you honestly think thats up to his standards? he's making music that
> > compliments his pyrotechnic liveshows in the same way movies have
> explosions
> > that compliment the 3d. Its fine in that context but for me he has been
> on a
> > rapid decline since ultravisior.
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: alucas@gmail.com
> > Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 09:21:08 -0400
> > Subject: Re: New Squarepusher track
> > To: c.byersbrown@gmail.com
> > CC: craignorms@hotmail.com; idm@hyperreal.org
> >
> >
> > I'm guessing he means this one:
> >
> > https://soundcloud.com/warp-records/squarepusher-stor-eiglass
> >
> > I quite like it.
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 9:19 AM, Charles Byers-Brown
> > <c.byersbrown@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Link?
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 12:21 PM, CRAIG SIMPSON <craignorms@hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > This is pis* weak. Hes making music that sounds like its all been sampled
> > from an arcade or funfair. Hes given up on the amen break. It's a
> tragedy.
> >
> > Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:06:04 -0700
> > From: gwrenchxx@sbcglobal.net
> > To: idm@hyperreal.org
> > Subject: Fwd: Re: Jlin album out.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --Forwarded Message Attachment--
> > Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:58:47 -0700
> > From: gwrenchxx@sbcglobal.net
> > To: 313@hyperreal.org
> > Subject: Re: Jlin album out.
> >
> > I've had to review a 12" or two for the radio station where I DJ, and
> > I've never heard anything that appealed to me in the least.
> >
> > kent williams wrote:
> >> I'm surprised footwork/juke hasn't been a bigger thing on the IDM
> >> list. This new record on Planet Mu is revelatory.
> >>
> >> http://www.planet.mu/discography/ZIQ356
> >
> >
> >
> >
>