Squarepusher-Problem Child

While some artists work happily within a style of expression, reinforcing it's identity and tradition, others exploit pre-existing elements for their own creative purpose, often siring new idioms. Such is the case with the jungle/jazz fusion of Tom Jenkinson, better known as Squarepusher. Having released classic work on labels like Spymania, Rephlex, Warp and Nothing, Jenkinson typifies what multi-instrumentalist/composer Anthony Braxton calls a "restructuralist," an artist who, while building upon the established foundation, breaks new cultural ground. Problem Child, a track from the 1998 US release of Big Loada (1997, Warp) on Nothing Records, catches electronica's then enfant terrible in the restructuralist act. Much along the lines of his early singles (compiled on 1997's Burningn'n Tree on Warp/Spymania), this track features a mixure of up-tempo jungle breaks with a staccato ostinato and some flashy fret(less)work (in this case, a dreamy sequence of melodic double-stops). Squarepusher's Dr. Rhythm visits Liberty City approach to jungle and jazz definitely humanized the mechanical and mechanized the human in ways theretofore unrealized, thus paving the way for bionic jazzists and intuitive junglists everywhere. Good show, old boy! Now, off to your room!