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(More customer reviews)With the awkwardly titled "Shobaleader One: d'Demonstrator," Tom Jenkinson fully commits to a refinement of the sound he hinted at with portions of 2008's "Just a Souvenir." The big revelation: Squarepusher can write lush, sexy pop songs, and not just every now and then. Here's essentially an entire album of insanely catchy electro-pop without the jazz fusion interludes he's historically been fond of. SO:d reflects a purity of vision that rivals that of "Go Plastic," though musically it inhabits a different universe. Those were willfully dense, abrasive, and thoroughly difficult pieces. These are SONGS.
The album's lead track, "Plug Me In," and "Abstract Lover" are both retro-futuristic slow jamz that should have R&B artists on their knees at Tom's doorstep begging for him to produce. "Synchronize our soul . . baby, that's how we roll . . " he and his vocoder purr in the former. That's as good a description for these two tracks as any . . "synchronized soul." What does that mean? I don't know, but it sounds right.
"Megazine" is getting the most notice, partially because of the video featuring the hoodie-and-LED-mask clad Shobaleader One "band." I wouldn't be surprised if "Megazine" becomes 'Pusher's best-known track ever, as it's a hurtling Daft Punk-style rave up that will have the faceless Frenchmen embarassed they ever released "Robot Rock." It's as catchy as "My Red Hot Car" without the salacious lyrics, and works equally well in the club or through headphones in your bedroom. Even thinking about this track will get your head bobbin'.
"Into the Blue" is a dreamy pop confection that reminded me instantly of Frou Frou's "Let Go." It, more than any other track here, gets more and more addictive with repeated listens. Tom again shows off an impeccable ear for hooks and little background details that keep the track fresh even after dozens of listens. "Into the Blue" follows a classic pop structure, yet is much more complex and nuanced than "A Real Woman," from "Just a Souvenir," for example. If any of the current "It" singers covered this, it would be a monster hit.
The lightest track here is the lush "Frisco Wave," but that's hardly a criticism. It's one of the few tracks here with no lyrics, but Tom still makes prudent use of the vocoder by adding some impossibly beautiful backing vocals to the tail end of what was already a very warm and appealing concoction.
The hidden gem here . . at least the track that snuck up on me . . is "Endless Night." This is what's so great about Squarepusher; this track shouldn't make sense, as Tom spins some lite funk, glassy synths, a hint of speed metal, and squelchy electronica into a true composition. Yet, it's somehow natural. It doesn't feel at all like Tom's showing off.
SO:d started out immensely playful, but ends on a note of menace. "Cryptic Motion" exaggerates the funk of "Endless Night," brings back the robotic vocals, and layers on 80's-style synths that manage to sound both cheesy and creepy at the same time. The closing track, "Maximum Planck," evokes pure dread with its slow, chugging guitar (think Soundgarden's "4th of July") and only shards of melody, until at the 3:50 mark it explodes into 60 seconds of "Steinbolt" style thrash. "Steinbolt" is one of my favorite tracks from "Ultravisitor," but it eventually collapses into confounding avant-noise excess. Here, the cacaphony is brief before Tom takes us in for a gentle landing with some gothic keyboard washes and acoustic guitar. This is a brilliant, unpredictable track to wrap up what was, for the most part, a beautiful but somewhat easy ride.
All in all, an outstanding effort. This is the type of album that works as a cohesive piece, yet each track stands proudly alone. Several are stunners. This might be the one that expands TJ's audience past the die-hards, and it should keep the die-hards breathlessly anticipating his next move. I don't know how many reinventions Tom has in him, but I'm on board.
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Shobaleader One: d'DemonstratorThis is by far the most accessible record Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) has ever made. This was not the original intent, but the result is clear. This record will change the way people view Squarepusher. Having been known as a leader and innovator in Drum 'n Bass and various forms of up tempo electronic music for 15 years, Jenkinson was always able to push the boundaries of the genre, but on ''Shobaleader One: d'Demonstrator'', he is pushing so far beyond his previous releases it is easy to hear why it might take a few listens to register that this is indeed a Squarepusher record. Vocals? R&B rhythms? Heavy synths? These and other un-Squarepusher like elements form what could even be described as 'baby makin' music'. Jenkinson's vast knowledge of rhythm and harmony help to make these songs much more than nu-soul R&B, they are truly an entity unto themselves.
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