Squarepusher’s sounds of drum and bass blended with experimental electronica and noise are the workings of a pioneer. 600BPM thundered out the PA to the point of losing yourself in time as Tom Jenkinson AKA Squarepusher executed phenomenal bass playing in this one-man performance at Stealth, Nottingham.
Taking the stage after Luke Vibert and Cassetteboy, Squarepusher’s moto of “lets f**king ‘av it” rings in my ears still today. A live production of Track 1 from the Burningn‘n tree album established the fertile ground for experiments to come in the two hour set. Sound that was quite a head f*** of intense speed, emotion, physical and rhythmic impact blew into my ears. Squarepusher, describing himself as a “musician, about live gigs not recordings,” moved beyond the sequencer, tidying up with heavyweight bass guitar improvisations. A cacophony of industrial noise and drum loops were only breathable by occasionally shedding layers of sound to one tone or perhaps a rich and smooth bass line. The climax reached with electrocuting speed as Squarepusher vomited down the mic “lets f***ing ‘av it” as the next tune screamed out the PA. Seemingly effortlessly playing his bass to break beats and tripping drum sequences, his fingers caressed every fret and string at the same time, playing every dissonant chord never thought possible. Squarepusher demonstrates how to yo-yo with precision: harmony, structure and rhythm, as his playing reached new territory of textures like acid rain on a spaceship’s roof.
The musician’s presence was discrete as the performer was tucked behind a speaker to the right of the stage and could only be seen from one angle. I found pleasure in total absorption of the music rather than looking, realising sensory deprivation has outstanding effects. Mid dancing I had a debate about this with my friend also a musician/performer. “What is the importance of performance in a club gig as surely enjoyment of the sounds and dancing in this environment is the essence?” His reply was “So then, if you cant see the performance why not just play a CD and not involve the artist’s physical presence?” He had a point. Perhaps with a counter argument of the live improvisations and the feeling of a live performance there was little else I could come up with from my viewpoint. Though I knew for sure that in a society obsessed with repeatedly mind numbingly dumb catchy (more like brainwashy) day-time (TV style) music on the radio, the question arises: where is the place for experimental music? It is Squarepusher who has successfully infiltrated the club culture by cleverly layering live experimental noise with dance beats. He is reaching out to the masses, going beyond the square format of music-structure and scratching over the boundaries of music and art. Thank God a terrorist has arrived in the music scene.
Musical silence between each tune became its own sound of hysterical cheers and vibrant applauds. Weaving fresh tones of unpackaged sounds into the repetition of drum loops Squarepusher shaped an innovate landscape for clubbers at the front and listeners at the rear. The beats were so hard-hitting that vibrations catapulted themselves from the walls to the floor jolting every person in its path. Lights teamed down on the crowd facing a giant LED screen of light as shapes and forms from squares gone wrong to a morphing cityscape and DNA designs illuminated the figures. The audience packed in every space of the venue instantly cast their energy back like a shadow. Mellowed out later in the set, high-energy beats sunk into a double take on alternate beats with a bass line so low it had the crowd dancing in slow motion. Gradually the solo bass track by Squarepusher had every adrenalin-fuelled listener brought to a stand still in the hands of a guru.
With ecstatic pleasure Squarepusher commented, “Here is my last! Let us f***ing smash it” And we truly did, loving every texture of high speed noise blessing our ears. This Sunday’s religion was indeed in super form of Squarepusher noise. Graced with a double encore, the crowd chanted for Gabba, more Beats and Noise! Clubbing on a Sunday, what would mother say?!
Click here for a photo gallery from the night
Squarepusher played live at Stealth November 13th 2005
Photos by Dom Henry & Al Greer
Warp Records
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