Squarepusher discusses inspiration for new album

Squarepusher: tongue possibly in cheek.
Squarepusher: tongue possibly in cheek.

Squarepusher (AKA Tom Jenkinson) has been talking about the inspiration for his new album, Just a Souvenir, which will be released on Warp Records on October 27. Be warned, though, that what he's been saying might not make a great deal of sense.

"This album started as a daydream about watching a crazy, beautiful rock band play an ultra-gig," he told CMU Daily. "Upon the stage was a group composed of five musicians. They seemed to be of differing ages, some young, some old. I noticed that the drummer was an Eskimo."

Jenkinson goes on to 'explain' what these musicians were up to: "They played instruments either of their own design or conventional ones that were modified such that they could be used to generate a range of sounds not typically associated with a rock band.

"For instance, one of the musicians appeared to be using a device attached to the body of his classical guitar that allowed him to accelerate or decelerate time in his immediate vicinity. At a certain point he seemed to quickly reverse back to a couple of months ago."

Vulnerable skull

After witnessing this extraordinary musical happening, Tom reports that he felt compelled to produce a record.

"I was left with an urgent sense of responsibility that I do honour to this vision of a remarkable ensemble. My memory of it was the only souvenir, and I feared its vulnerability with only a skull to protect it. I ventured forth to the studio shortly after the New Year. I emerged on 15 Jul. This [Just a Souvenir] is the result".

One track from the album, Delta -v, is currently streaming on the Warp Records MySpace page. Based on the above description, we wouldn't dare to predict what the rest of the record will sound like.

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.