Squarepusher's 1996 debut album released on Rephlex Records. Tom got signed to Rephlex after playing a gig at the George Robey Pub in Finbury Park, where Richard D. James and Grant Wilson-Clarriarge just so happened to be! Tom already knew a bit about Richard and Richard (& Grant) was interested enough to strike a record deal with Tom, although his time on Rephlex would be short.
This album here was many's first exposure to Squarepusher. It wasn't some of mine, but I do have a few memories with it. Before I owned this album, I had listened to tracks like Squarepusher Theme, Tundra and Theme From Ernest Borgnine many times before listening to the album in full. It wasn't until my 15th birthday when I got the 25th anniversary CD as a gift from my mother that I actually sit down and listen to it. But, I didn't really give the album the proper time of day, so I didn't have much of an opinion on it after listening to it the first time. However, I relistened to it recently because I now have a copy of Hard Normal Daddy, and wanted to get a better picture of what led Tom to make it. And what I (re)found was pretty nice!
The previously mentioned opening track Squarepusher Theme kicks off the album with an excellent example of what the rest of the album will sound like. With it's sweet sounding, broken-up guitar samples, smooth bass licks and fast breakbeats coming together to make one of the best tracks on the album. And the equally aforementioned second track Tundra takes things in a slightly different direction; taking on a much spookier atmosphere with ominous violin strings and dark (yet, sometimes hopeful) synths that are complimented with these hard and intense breakbeats that come in and out when needed. That one (on original pressings of the album) is my favorite track [=
The Swifty almost sounds like it's gonna be a Dub track from the first few seconds of it, before it spirals into a smooth bass solo (It's not worth much until that solo, but the track is a nice inclusion on the album). And that track is followed by a track with another disorientating intro with the next track Dimotane Co, which starts with this noisy, prolonged buzzing synth before changing course completely for an incredibly rough and bouncy (positive) acid jam. These track and others like the slow and gloomy U.F.O.'s Over Leytonstone give the album a little bit of variety and keep you on your toes.
It's tracks like Smedley's Melody and Goodnight Jade that add a lot of personality to this album. The first is centered around a jaunty little bass riff with more of the fast drumming that you hear throughout the album, and ends with these weird vocal samples of Tom clearing his throat, which never ceases to make me chuckle [= The other track mentioned above is a short and sweet piece with lush synths and heartbeat-esque percussion. According to the liner-notes, it was dedicated to his girlfriend at the time.
Theme From Ernest Borgnine and North Circular never fail to be fun and energizing. The former having some heavenly 303 sequencing and synths, more of the fast breaks heard throughout and ends with an excellent climax (also, the reason why it's called that is because of Ernest's role as a helicopter pilot in the show Airwolf). Where as North Circular is this bassy, mildly eerie Drill & Bass track that, may have been a least favorite on first listen, but has thoroughly become a favorite of mine because of just how fun it is to listen to.
However, it's the last two tracks on the album that fall flat for me. The penultimate track Kodack is a nice Fusion track on the album, especially out of context from it, but I find it gets a tad repetitive and isn't nearly as good in context. And the last track Future Gibbon caps off the album with an incredibly intense and glitchy Drill & Bass cut that just kinda... ends the album abruptly with a fade-out. Yep, that's it, that's all ya get. Again, the track is okay out of the context of the album, less so in context. But, remember I said I got the 25th anniversary version of the album? Well, it comes with bonus tracks from the Squarepusher Plays... EP (these tracks also appear on Japanese CD pressings as well)!
The first of these bonuses is Theme From Goodbye Renaldo which, if it were properly on the album, it
would be my favorite track on the whole thing. It has funky bongos (instant selling point), melancholic
synths, bass playing that's a mix of both, and it ends in a very somber climax that I find to be a
perfect (would be) ending to the album. And an honorable mention goes to the other bonus track
Deep Fried Pizza, which has some of the most catchy percussion on the whole album and bass slapping
that's fittingly greasy sounding (although I think it's only a slightly better ending than Future Gibbon).
Overall, this album is a great first foray into the Drum & Bass and Fusion that Squarepusher would kinda expand upon with his next album. Especially with the bonus tracks, which are absolutely essential. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn good. What can I say, he really puts the bass in Drum & Bass. Heheh, heh...
Now, for anyone who wants to buy this album: on CD, the 25th anniversary version is nice, it comes with the bonus tracks and the remaster has a lot of praise behind it. But the packaging it's in is prone to scratching and scuffing the disc, so I'd opt for an original Japanese imported pressing instead, but the 25th anniversary version is an okay alternative. And for you vinyl freaks out there, The 25th anniversary version seems like the way to go! The issues seen on the CD version aren't present and, once again, the remaster seems to be rather good (I'm not an audiophile so I can't say for sure). You can also get an original pressing with the Squarepusher Plays... EP separately, because as of now, they both don't seem to be at horrible prices. All digital versions appear to be fine.
| The one you should listen to: | Should I listen to it?: | Cans or Woofers?: |
| Squarepusher Theme | Maybe listen to Hard Normal Daddy first, but otherwise yes | Woofers |
(*I DO NOT earn a cut of the revenue if you purchase this album. Remember to buy it on the Bandcamp Friday to fully support the artist and/or band [=)
(Review 1 writen on 12/26/25)