Leftfield charts

Review: Squarepusher's Ultravisitor, now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a triple vinyl reissue, is a dense, sprawling work that showcases Tom Jenkinson's mastery of electronic experimentation. Released in 2004, this nearly 80-minute album fuses drum-n-bass, jazz, and live instrumentation, while exploring everything from melodic electro-pop to chaotic improvisation. It offers a comprehensive glimpse into Squarepusher's world, touching on every facet of his sound, making it feel like the culmination of his career up to that point. Tracks like the title piece and 'Iambic 9 Poetry' demonstrate his ability to blend complex rhythms with melodic layers, while '50 Cycles' veers into noise-laden abstraction, hinting at genre reinvention. Jenkinson's virtuosic bass work shines on songs like 'I Fulcrum', and even his guitar compositions, such as 'Andrei', show his versatility. Despite its many strengths, Ultravisitor can feel bloated, with some improvisations overstaying their welcome. Yet, its sheer ambition and range are undeniable, offering an album both challenging and captivating, and the highlights reaffirm why Squarepusher remains a key figure in electronic music.

Review: Not too many artists can create a buzz quite like when word spreads of a new album more than Squarepusher. Dostrotime is the first album for Tom Jenkinson in nearly four years, one of his longest breaks between albums. Proceeding the album release, the video for the hardcore acid banger Wendorlan has been making the rounds on the internet. If this is any indication of the rest of the album, then expect some serious heat. Audio samples have been tightly secured to protect leaks online until the release date. This album will be spread over a 2x12 and nicely packaged in gatefold form and no doubt contain some great gallops through the genre spectrum like only Squarepusher can do.

Review: The 20th-anniversary edition of Squarepusher's Ultravisitor showcases Tom Jenkinson's groundbreaking blend of live and studio recordings, remastered for new depths of sound. Spanning frenetic breakbeats, jazz-funk explorations and atmospheric fusion, this album captures the complexity and eclecticism of Jenkinson's work. Tracks like 'Iambic 9 Poetry' deliver sunlit jazz tones, while 'Tommib Help Buss' brings serene electronic bliss. Although Ultravisitor might feel overlong at nearly 80 minutes, its sprawling length doesn't diminish its innovation. The title track encapsulates Squarepusher's signature drum-n-electro-pop, while pieces like 'Circlewave' and 'I Fulcrum' balance virtuosity with thematic exploration. Jenkinson's improvisational drumming and bass solos, such as on 'I Fulcrum', demonstrate his command over both instruments and composition. Jenkinson's eccentricity shines through, making Ultravisitor an essential listen for both long-time fans and newcomers. This edition reaffirms Squarepusher's pioneering role in electronic music, blending technical brilliance with intriguing, if at times chaotic, compositions. It's a record that intrigues and impresses, pushing the boundaries of beat-driven electronic music.

Review: This special anniversary edition of Squarepusher's debut album Feed Me Weird Things is released almost exactly 25 years to the day after the original. Back then it came on Aphex Twin's now defunct Rephlex label and has not been available on streaming platforms ever since. All remastered from the original DATs and with a new, original booklet filled with note and ephemera it is an essential cop for fans old and new. The record broken out of the tight genre restrictions of the time to pair complex rhythms with disarming melodies.

Review: Given the uniqueness of his madcap and mind-altering trademark sound, the release of any new album from Tom Jenkinson AKA Squarepusher is big news. Given that his last new full-length landed four years ago, the arrival of Dostrotime has got an awful lot of experimentalists in a bit of a lather. Like many albums that have surfaced in the last couple of years, it was apparently inspired by the "novel, eerie, sublime silence of lockdown", with the title being a reference to "how time passed differently". Quite how this plays out within the music itself is open to interpretation; for the most part, what's on offer is prime Squarepusher - all distorted, full-throttle acid lines, mutilated experimental D&B beats, analogue electronics and rasping, strobe-lit nods to raves,