Squarepusher – Music Is Rotted One Note

Not what you'd be expecting after 3 years of glitchy drill'n'bass records...

Squarepusher does Miles Davis, here. Starting with the sick funk of "Chunk-S", we dive straight into acid jazz territory with "Don't Go Plastic". "Dust Switch", "137(Rinse)", "My Sound", and "Theme from Vertical Hold" all rank up there with the sickest jazz-fusion you'd ever hope to have through your headphones. Sick, tight basswork on this album. All of the above tracks feature some insane improv.

Even the so-called "filler" tracks hold this record together quite well; and it all ends with quite possibly the most disturbing sounds in music..."Step 1-Last Ap Roach". "Step 1" is the invasion; "Last Ap Roach" is the aftermath(complete with eerie reverb and distant siren sounds; you can feel the post-apocalypse).

Miles would be proud, for sure.

This album is testimony to this man's genius. There is no other album I know of that showcases one man's ability so well in BOTH technical ability as a player and awareness, and mastery as a producer. The sampling of the drums, the snares and rides particularly, is awe inspiring; crisp, clear and powerful, as well as subtle and intricate. The virtuosity on the bass is able to rival even Jaco (his Hard Normal Daddy album is an equal showcase of this, although i believe the ambience of this album works better to show it off).

A lazy reviewer could well make a statement along the lines of, "Bitches Brew on acid", and although trite, it would at least be a reasonable supposition as to how that would sound. This is however no idle tribute (and certainly no novelty piece), it picks up where that left off in musicianship and atmosphere, but it adds such amazing character unique to Mr. Jenkinson. I couldn't comment on his losing the ability to control basic functions, but i would imagine Miles would be astounded (pleasantly i'm sure) to see how his vision had been carried on.

This to me is the Pusher's masterwork (to date). Nothing of his leaves me cold, although i am not always a fan of his seemingly more (aurally) sadistic works. Rotted however always captivates and inspires me. I hope this album puts people who are into Warp's output onto the fusion greats of the Seventies, as i know anyone well acquainted with Bitches Brew would be pleasantly surprised on hearing this for the first time.

No, it's not his strongest album... oh wait, yes it is. Unlike all his other records, I can put this on and never, ever feel like skipping a track. There's so much emphasis on performance and sound, and less on technicality and how many snare rolls he can fit in less than a second, and I fucking love it. Absolute divine beauty wonderful yeaaaah.

I am ashamed to hear so many bad reviews of this album. For those of you who do not appreciate this album, you should not be listening to Squarepusher in the first place, as to deny his roots is to deny his art (where do you think the term IDM came from anyway?). As many have said, this album is one of the most amazing tributes to the great fusion jazz musicians of our time, and before our time (depending on how old you are) that exists among modern artists. Jenkinson has taken what he knows about jazz (which is clearly a good deal!), and has created a masterpiece. For anyone who does appreciate Jenkinson's roots (Coltrane, Davis, Lloyd, Roach, among others), you are in for a treat with this album. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM!

when i first listened to this, i thought it was terrible. i'd never heard something sound so stupid. my friend told me i'd like it more as i listened to it more, and he was damn right. 2nd time around i loved it. Don't Go Plastic and My Sound are my favorites, but the album is an all-around great piece of work. it's very different, but very enjoyable once you get into it

If I wanted to hear this kind of music I'd put on Miles Davis' _Bitches Brew_.

This isn't bad, but the style has been done so often (and so much better) that it's boring. Tom should stick to more electronic fare (I loved "Budakhan Mindphone", to compare).

Ok, It kinda bothers me that this album (Music Is Rotted One Note) is always either dismissed, overlooked, or so underappreciated. In the first listen, I understand it seems much more ambient than his usual machine drum tracks and spastic time changes...but this doesn't mean there is less going on. Trying to gather this album in under 3 listens is like looking for a mouse in the dark. You gotta wait for your eyes to adjust before you'll spot 'em. Let your brain do some adjusting for this album (if it takes drugs, hey, whatever it takes). Tom Jenkinson in all his wanderful discography absolutely DOES NOT have an album that demonstrates his amazing bass playing abilities or drum skill as well as this one (Listen to that goddamn ride...Tony Williams anyone?). IT'S JAZZ. Miles Davis would have shit his pants if he was ever able to hear this.

Bottom line, give this album a chance. It took me a few weeks, but now it's hard to say i like another album of Squarepusher's more. JAZZ JAZZ JAZZ the motherfucker knows his JAZZ.

-JT

This is a terrible album, it's like Squarepusher decided to take all this momentum he had built up from album to album and just let is DROP! BOO HISS!