Squarepusher - Just A Souvenir

Tom Jenkinson is clearly one of the most talented electronic musicians in the last two decades. At the age of overabundance in computer generated music it is important to discern true talents from the sea of mediocrity. Jenkinson, known as Squarepusher, has not only created his own unique electronic sound. How many electronic musicians are also gifted composers, have a good melodical sense and can also play not just one, but several conventional instruments?

After the more difficult and challenging albums with a more industrial sound a la Do You Know Squarepusher (2002), Jenkinson has moved towards a more organic and multi-instrumental sound picture. Already the transitional album Ultravisitor (2004) showed Jenkinson playing acoustic drums as much as programming his trademark chaotic beats. It also included interludes for classical guitar. Even more accomplished of a work was Hello Everything (2006) the front cover of which depicted all the instrumental roles as performed by Jenkinson on the record.

Just A Souvenir continues the trend towards the more live- and instrument-oriented sound. For this album Jenkinson found inspiration for a surreal dream involving a live experience, that he is attempting to translate into the music here. It sounds as if Jenkinson rather plays the drums as opposed to programming the beats. Then again his drumming is increasingly more similar to his innovative beats in terms of sound and texture. We can also hear more guitar (and bass), including the classical guitar interludes, a tradition since Ultravisitor. As a composer and a musician Jenkinson has clearly developed a fair bit.

Of course this album presents Squarepusher at his known goodness. "Star Time 2" demonstrates once again that Jenkinson has always composed and selected great songs for album openers. Squarepusher has always referred to jazz-fusion, especially being influenced by Weather Report. As a bassist, Jenkinson has often been considered as Jaco Pastorius of the electronic age and it is unlikely that this album would challenge this notion in any way.

This album, however, is the most jazz-fusionish work from Squarepusher. Jenkinson presents jazz fusion as it would have evolved had it still stressed innovation, instead of overrating virtuosity, the fate that overruled much of jazz-fusion in late 70s. What's more exciting: this album also rocks from time to time. Songs like "A Real Woman", "Planet Gear" and "Tensor In Green" (the latter also featuring some fuzz-bass workout) include a rocking energy few jazz-rockers have captured, but with its chilly surfaces they retain the same atmosphere as his more electronic work.

Just A Souvenir shows Squarepusher as a talented composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist who has a signature sound, but whose approach is always interesting and different. Who only plays the music he wants to but gets better at this. This album is Squarepusher's most mature work to date.