This is a bit of an oddity in Squarepusher’s back catalogue of a wide array of music. Specifically, this is an EP with some originals and some additional remixes, with a little help from his friends in the EDM and IDM music scene. In any case, this should be a better listen than some of the albums that were released before this EP. In any case, this was released on the famous Warp Records (a record label well known for putting out amazing music releases) and is short and hopefully sweet. Let’s take a listen to this EP release, and we hope it is a good listen.

Song: Our Underwater Torch is a six-minute long piece that begins with some interesting and spacey musical sounds to boot. This is an interesting and surrealistic, psychedelic listen. Soon into it, percussion enters with a bunch of delay and echo-laden beats. A really great effort is present to listen to here. This music is pretty and laidback in its own way. A very different listening experience compared to most conventional Pop/Rock Music, but something that you can definitely put on headphones to and chill back to. An organ enters, which makes this tune sound even more individual and different. A really great and different listening experience that sounds explorational and unique in its own way. Sure, this may not be the best regarded or most highly sought-after release by Squarepusher. Still, it retains its originality, melodic beauty and cleverness about it all. Definitely a worthwhile listening experience, and something just a little bit different than what you would typically expect. A very interesting listen. The second half has watery percussion sounds and a very interesting, psychedelic listening experience throughout. A good EP so far, even if this is music that many will neither understand nor get. There is a build-up of sound and textures towards the end here, which sounds completely different before this returns to the main batch of melodic tracks. Something a bit of an acquired taste, but sounds very interesting and different throughout. This slowly ends with the sounds of running water, delayed percussion and an extended outro. Quite good to listen to.

Decathlon Oxide sounds as random as anything, with some cool, cut-up beats to match. This is very much a good mixture of Techno and Drum and Bass, for your ears. In any case, this is a dark, interesting and detailed listening experience. Sure, this kind of music is not the most popular style or type of music out there to this day. However, having said that it retains its relevance and interest as a piece of music throughout. It has some warped and interesting Acid House/Techno sounds throughout, which sound quirky and interesting. A really interesting and science fiction-based tune, without being straight-ahead Techno, this deep and dark music is very cool to listen to. The second half of the track has a bit of a breakdown, before some oddly sampled vocals are present here. A very good listen for IDM-based music, this has some very interesting and unforgettable moments throughout. The sort of IDM/Techno/Drum and Bass for those of you who dig the video game Space Invaders or video games in general. This sounds better than expected. Very cool.

You’re Going Down begins with some slow and loose electronically modified drums and percussion, before quickly launching into a strange piece of Lounge Jazz-styled music to listen to. Regardless, this music does sound wonderfully unique and interesting. A very interesting, artistic and enjoyable tune, although this is mostly percussion-based sonically throughout. In any case, this slow and interesting listen is completely different from music elsewhere. Towards the midsection, this abruptly changes dramatically and launches into some weird bass guitar and a bunch of other different samples over cut-up drum beats and vocals. It switches back to the first musical section after some time, which sounds sweet and different to listen to. Nonetheless, a very enjoyable piece of music. A good and interesting three-minute plus tune with variety and textures galore, this is a good example of late 1990s Squarepusher into a short EP. This ends well after three and a half minutes. Good job.

Cranium Oxide is only 30 seconds long. It has some electrical noises and the sound of someone screaming in an awful way. Not good.

Two Bass Hit – Ae Mix features fellow EDM genius Autechre. It begins with soft organ sounds and weird, reversed sounds. This is highly unusual. It quickly launches into a minimal, yet danceable piece (very unusual for these guys) that sounds upbeat, interesting and mellow out in a sweet way. This is one of the highlights of this EP, and it sounds tripped out and psychedelic in a very Techno-inspired way. In any case, this music is an imaginative and warped listen that should be appreciated by more listeners out there. This piece of strange music is worth throwing onto an online playlist of EDM tunes that are really unusual. Some of the weirdest music you will ever listen to is from Squarepusher, and this tune is no different as a result. Anyway, this continues on nicely for some time and sounds quirky and different. This is heavily indebted to Techno Music, but nonetheless, it sounds awesome. A good highlight from this strange EP, and is four minutes in length. It ends suddenly.

Circular Flexing – Yee-King Mix is a remix with Yee-King. It begins with some ghostly, ambient sounds and hi-hats galore, before quickly entering into a melodic and interesting musical piece that is a solid gold winner. Again, this is more underrated than overrated. It has some liquid Acid House-styled sounds throughout this tune as well. This is pure EDM art and sounds quirky, original and different. A very good listen from Squarepusher and our guest. The cut-up beats are sensationally awesome, and the whole thing sounds marvellously interesting. A solid effort, pointing out that Squarepusher and friends could make some uniquely artistic music. A very, very good listen throughout. Towards the middle, the percussion stops to let some interesting textures enter, and this sounds great, especially through headphones. Some digital and cut-up beats follow, sounding quintessentially brilliant. Drum rolls then occur, and this dark, interesting tune comes alive. A very decent musical piece. The beats stop in the second half, followed by some interesting and dark, science-fiction Techno styled textures. Eventually, the beats return and this gets going. A good listen, given you like dark, unsettling EDM. The beats progress on nicely to the end before this tune dramatically changes to conclude with. A very nice listen, and this breathes focus and life into Squarepusher’s music. Excellent.

Shin Triad – Wagonchrist Mix features Wagon Christ (a bit of a weird name for an artist, don’t you think?). It is the final track on this EP. It begins with looped and percussive-sounding finger clicks. In any case, this sounds awesome and interesting throughout. Although being a fairly minimal and percussive piece of music, it quickly moves into a mind-melting and awesome listening experience with digital sounds galore. A really powerful and interesting musical effort, it breaks down into a smooth and digitally edited part that sounds quite different, before restarting. Make no mistake, this music definitely sounds quirky and different. The music present is completely different to anything else ever made in the history of music, and this is indeed, a Warp Records classic EP that deserves to be listened to by more people out there. The music throughout is a fantastic listening experience that is individualistic, interesting and musically excellent. In the second half are some sweet, cut-up sounds that your ears will appreciate. There is an interesting breakdown with a great sonic sound solo, followed by cut-up drumbeats to conclude this good EP. A very leftfield listen.

This may be seen as merely just another EP release from Squarepusher. However, it is an improvement on what was previously released in the year by Squarepusher and indeed, is a historically important listening experience. If you want a good mixture of Techno, IDM, Drum and Bass and other EDM genres in a half-hour listen, look no further. Should you listen to this EP? If you like that sort of mixture of sonic sounds and an original template as mentioned here, then yes. Otherwise, you may wish to listen to more conventional music.

Decent and inspired artistic music for the future.

7/10