Squarepusher presents "Selection Sixteen" Warp/Nothing 6648909962 1999 (46:27)
The Eye (2:17)
Square Rave (3:01)
Time Borb (1:04)
Dedicated Loop (3:47)
Tomorrow World (4:56)
Cool Veil (:32)
Schizm Track #1 (5:07)
Freeway (1:38)
Snake Pass (3:30)
Yo (:29)
Mind Rubbers (4:06)
Tesko (:20)
Acid Tape Track (3:54)
8 Bit Mix #1 (1:03)
8 Bit Mix #2 (:55)
Schizm Track #2 Mix (3:45)
Ceephax Mix (Andy Jenkinson remix) (6:02)
Composed, performed and produced by Tom Jenkinson.
"Selection Sixteen" is the 3rd release of 1999 from Squarepusher, following the "Maximum Priest" EP and "Budakhan Mindphone" mini album . This one, despite the addition of 4 'bonus' tracks (also available on the bonus 10" the comes with the vinyl version), may also be considered a mini album since it clocks in at less than 47 minutes. It seems that Jenkinson has decided to explore a little of everything he does within this collection of short tracks: "Big Loada"-style hyper drum 'n bass and 303 acid, "Music is Rotted One Note"-style future jazz (mostly the shorter pieces), future hip hop, indescribable weirdness and various combinations of the above. Jenkinson is capable of creating really beautiful and/or really alien electronic and organic musics ... he's very talented. Several of these tracks have surprisingly simple and repetitious rhythms and many are so short that they end before or just as they're going somewhere. A few comments on some of my favorite tracks: "Square Rave" is classic uptempo Big Loada-era Squarepusher. "Time Borb" goes from jazz to drum 'n bass and would be killer if it kept going for at least another 5 minutes. "Dedicated Loop" and "Tomorrow World" both have mellow synth melody backgrounds with bass throbs and percussion skittering about. "Schizm Track 1" has an Autechre sort of noisy hip hop groove. "Snake Pass" is simple with a 303 line and a four on the floor beat. "Mind Rubbers" (great title) is chock full of strange snare rushes and bizarre samples. Of the 4 bonus tracks, the 2 "8 Bit Mix" tracks are throwaways. "Schizm Track #2 Mix" is, of course, similar to "Schizm Track #1" only more uptempo while "Ceephax Mix" doesn't really pick up until the final minutes (why is *this* track the longest? Ugh). Again, Jenkinson could have released just 1 really solid, full album's worth of tracks rather than 3 discs with many lesser quality or filler tracks. Hopefully this year he will concentrate all of his efforts into 1 full length. All the criticism aside I still love most of this man's music and look forward to whatever comes next. I just hope it doesn't milk my wallet 3 more times ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Riouxs Records.