Squarepusher has been twisting brains and confounding expectations for nearly ten years now. ‘Venus No 17’ is the latest single to be lifted from the ‘Ultravistor’ album and has it’s sights firmly fixed on the dance floor. Whilst remaining ‘left field’ it’s surprisingly straight forward in essence and it remains recognisably Squarepusher.
Whilst drum ‘n’ bass as a genre continues to confound expectations by continuing to thrive away from the music media’s glare after being written off on several occasions, it remains a genre rooted in club culture with little to offer the casual listener. Undoubtedly thrilling in a sweaty club under the big speakers or at 5am in a festival tent, it’s translation into the rest of the world is limited to passing car stereos that cost more than the car they’re fitted in and advertisers looking for that elusive bridge between they’re rather stuffy products and that elusive late 20’s early 30’s demographic. Advertising executives talking to other advertising executives as usual (you can own a Mercedes and appreciate the Aphex Twin, it’s official).
‘Venus No 17’ is all twisted beats, spooky tinkling sounds, sirens, squelchy acid and crashing hi-hats all in place, the worst thing I can say about it is that it sounds exactly how I thought it would sound. And there’s the rub, with an artist that has confounded all and sundry on numerous occasions, to deliver the obvious is to stagnate. Whilst acknowledging some of the great moments given to us by Squarepusher and the Aphex Twin, the question arises have they anything left to say?
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Not on the evidence of this I’m afraid. The second track is the ‘Acid Mix’ of the first and does exactly what it says it would. The final track ‘Tundra 4’ clocks in at over 12 minutes (!) and is a reworking of a track off of his debut album ‘Feed Me Weird Things’. It drifts by like an old Orbital album track.
It seems to be a make or break moment in the Squareusher world. Warp are broadening their horizons at the moment, redefining what they’re about without losing their special place in peoples (twisted) hearts. In particular !!! and Two Lone Swordsmen are kicking dance music up the arse. Does Squarepusher accept the challenge?
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