SQUAREPUSHER album poll

I love how it's hard to tell where the live ends and begins on Ultravisitor, including mashes of live playing with audience chatter merged into studio recordings. I think it's easily his most psychedelic record - an attribute I wouldn't normally give to Squarepusher.

Ultravisitor is kind of when I stopped being an avid fan really. Not sure if it's just cos it came out when my interest in Warp/IDM was waning or if it was something else, but every succeeding album only got a couple of cursory plays from me. Sqaurepusher is one of these frustrating artists with a huge back catalogue where each release has at least 2-3 incredible songs surrounded by a lot of padding.

each release has at least 2-3 incredible songs surrounded by a lot of padding

yeah, i agree with the broad point, though i would put the number of incredible songs on each album as closer to 4-7. of course 4-7 back to back drill and bass workouts might be more fun in theory than in reality, so maybe there is a reason why he pads his albums out.

His best few albums don't have much padding (I think DL and I have disagreed on that point several times before...).

yeah i'm not sure "padding" is the right word

Ufabulum's frustratingly good in parts and pieces. like in the opener, 4001, the vibe is super chill/melancholy/reflective, but it jumps straight into a dubious stadium-strobe light-blow yr wad chorus. Static Shock is pretty sweet as well. The album is mastered way too loud, it kills the ears. Sounds too much like anxious, monochrome Decepticons, needs more low key chillness.

few say this, but I like Just A Souvenir. Like miniature prog-jazz tunes played by (yep) robots. Mastered super quietly for some reason, but it's one of the few Squarepusher records I'd call "charming"

love how dry those first several tracks are on JAS.. it's great

Shobaleader One is so amazing

lol I was gonna post in here how much I dug Just a Souvenir and Ufabulum. I think if you're gonna follow Squarepusher it really helps to not have any expectations and just listen with an open mind. With JAS I remember a lot of people being disappointed that Squarepusher would put out such a "dumb" record. For me it was like...I've been waiting years for him to do that. Ufabulum I really thought was great, but as pointed out its just too loud, which I think marred his latest album too. I kinda like it when his music is just brainless and fun.

The Coathanger (on JAS) is a good curve ball for a mixed tape, and it's dry- almost grip tape, matte as fuck.

you know what, this Shobaleader album rules, I'm listening to it all the time now.

Liking the new stuff a lot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ke5hp-p3E

Budakhan Mindphone robbed

it has one good song, but it's one of his best ones. maybe his best one

Yeah that's fair (couple of other good ones too though)

That new track is great, has that constant building-up-to-something tension giving an edge to the acid