As Squarepusher’s career began to take off after the release of his debut album Feed Me Weird Things in 1996, so did the attention towards him and the need for more material to be made. Therefore, this was his fourth release overall since that album and this is an EP that is definitely worth paying attention to. Being a sort of post-Drum and Bass Music maker, Squarepusher makes individualistic and decent sort of IDM-based tunes for those who crave a much more intellectual listening experience than your average House Music mix of the day which specialises in 4/4 beats and repetitive textures that are trashy. This EP is a good sample of the work that Squarepusher, aka Thomas Russell Jenkinson, could make at his peak. Let’s dive in and take a look, track by track. This EP was released on the famous Warp Records label as well, a label synonymous with other classic EDM-styled releases.

A Journey To Reedham – 7am Mix is the first track on this EP, and also the longest track on the EP as well. It begins with some voice samples and repeating cyber melodies. This is very interesting, to begin with. Other double-tracked cyber melodies enter this piece of music, and cut-up beats follow as well. This is a very inspiring, intelligent and different listening experience with cut-up and fantastic drums and percussion throughout. This sounds a lot like Drill ‘n’ Bass. The beats conclude for a little bit, with some melodic buildup. Soon afterwards, this launches into an absolutely brilliant and psychotic mixture of cut-up beats. Bear in mind that Squarepusher’s Music is for intellectual listening, not just Raves or Nightclubs out there. The melodies, cut-up beats and Trance-inducing sounds make for a really excellent listening experience throughout. This is some of the best intellectual IDM you will ever hear. The sounds and textures galore are absolutely brilliant to listen to. In fact, in terms of intelligence, Squarepusher has some of the biggest brains in Electronic Music today. In any case, this great mixture of beats, bizarreness and sonic awe is a match made in heaven. This is also a very pleasant listening experience and is too good to be ignored. Towards the end, the beats cut out for a bit, leaving the Trance-styled melodies to continue on for some time. This music is hugely intellectual. It ends with the cyber melodies gradually being mixed out, with an electronic string patch being played as well. A brilliant listening experience. This tune ends with a single repeated melody throughout, with a fade-out applied to it.

Full Rinse features MC Twin Tub. It begins with some silence, followed up by intricate and 8-bit sounding cut-up beats. This sounds quirky, enjoyable and fantastic, and is just over two minutes in length. A thrilling and weird listen, this is very, very cool music to hear. The intricacies and production throughout are #1, and cannot be beat. There is some cut-up Rapping from the guest, but for the most part, this is a beatastic mayhem of a tune. The beats alternate really well throughout, and sound really sweet. A great piece of music. It slows right down at the end, before having an 808 State-styled conclusion. Great.

Massif (Stay Strong) begins with some spacey sounds and slight rhythms, which are very much like Ambient Music. Soon enough, some trippy EDM Breakbeats enter and this piece becomes a really great listening experience. Some awesome Drum and Bass beats enter, along with liquid sounds. There are stop/start motions throughout this tune, and the whole thing sounds amazingly great for what it is. There is a breakdown with some more concentrated Acid-styled sounds after some time. This is trippy music for those of you who are sensible enough not to take drugs of any sort. The imagination, layering and sounds throughout are all undeniably brilliant. Towards the middle are some dual-tracked Drum and Bass beats, and a frenzy of sound and textures. A really different and dramatic listening experience, this sounds top-notch and enjoyable. The second half has just as many surprises as the first half, with Drum and Bass beats, liquid sounds and Ambient Music in the background. Nonetheless, this is a very strong and fantastic tune to hear. It is a really refreshing and different tune, with twists and turns that you will not expect. Towards the end, there are a bunch of interesting beats, a slower tempo and dirty Acid-liquid melodies to sink your teeth into. A really A Grade and dramatic tune. It goes back into the hyperbeat mayhem to finish up this track, and it sounds like a musical assault to conclude with.

Come On My Selector launches straight into it with some fast Drum and Bass beats, some weird washes of sound cut-up mania and pitch-shifted vocals. This is a thrilling, awesome and interesting listening experience overall. Dual-tracked beats with a stop/start and rather tripped-out feel to them are here, and they all sound great. This is something that definitely needs to be heard. In the midsection are some awesome cut-up sounds, including some slap bass guitar sounds. Indeed, a very intelligent and intricate listening experience. The mixture of bass guitar playing, rapid-fire beats and awesome music throughout make for a fantastic and animated listen. This wraps up with the beats from the intro, before layered other sounds on top. There is a repeated vocal sample at the end here, referencing fellow Drum and Bass artist Goldie.

The Body Builder – Dressing Gown Mix begins with some bell-like tones that are electronically treated. This is another short and excellent listening experience with many modified and cut-up digital sounds throughout. This music is incredibly and awesomely unique, through and through. Towards the middle, this enters into a dramatic and indescribably awesome listening experience. Even if you are not a huge fan of EDM, IDM or Drum and Bass, you can certainly appreciate the music throughout this track. Some spacey Techno science fiction-styled sounds are present throughout. This wraps up well towards the end with some awesome textures and ends with a fuzzy fade-out. Brilliant.

Tequila Fish begins with some smooth and interesting melodies, with a ton of cut-up breakbeats. Again, this is highly intelligent music that definitely deserves your attention. Some excellent and quirky mixing is going on here and the whole tune sounds magical, enjoyable and upbeat. This sort of music is very much a mashup of Techno, EDM, IDM, Drum and Bass and quirkiness all around. The music here is fairly Acid House inspired but in its own digital way. A really stunning and thrilling tune is present here, and the music within is really fantastic to hear. A lively, upbeat and really fun listen, this is the sort of background music one should have playing when eating fish and drinking tequila with friends. A really interesting and wonderful listen with many spacey science fiction-styled sounds throughout this particular track. In the second half are slowed-down beats with piano, static and other interesting sounds. This is followed by a ton of sweet and nicely cut-up breakbeats throughout, which is interesting, as always. The music here sounds like a rapid-fire, intellectual and interesting listening experience from start to finish. Towards the end, a multitude of breakbeats go on, before some voice samples come on in. This is a slower section of music, which sounds really weird, especially with the voice sample. It ends after six minutes in total.

Jacques Mal Chance (Il N’a Pas de Chance) sounds like a short, yet interesting and joyous piece to conclude this EP with. It has liquid sounds, basic drumbeats and a pseudo-Jazz feel to the music at hand. This is the final track on this EP, less than a minute long. The EP concludes here.

For a relatively short EP release with only seven songs on it and running for less than 30 minutes in total, this is a legendary release that sounds brilliant. It also helped break down musical barriers further that people had at the time, particularly those EDM fans who didn’t like hearing the four-to-the-floor 24/7. A very interesting, intellectual and professional release. Should you listen to this album? Absolutely, it is a great point of note for a quick EP to listen to when you want to hear some crazy IDM offshoot-styled music.

Tremendously awesome.

9/10