Warp Records reissue Squarepusher’s debut album "Feed Me Weird Things", virtually 25 years to the day from its original release in ‘96. First released on the now inactive Rephlex label, the album has not been available on streaming platforms until now and has been out of print for more than a decade. This complete edition has been remastered from the original DATs and features two extra tracks which were first released on the B-side of the “Squarepusher Plays… EP” and later featured on the original Japanese release of this album. The edition also includes a 16 page booklet with personal photographs, ephemera and candid notes from Tom Jenkinson, throwing light on the early days of his career.
The release follows “Be Up A Hello”, Squarepusher’s 2020 album that was filled with buoyant, dancefloor driven tracks which featured some of the same analogue and digital hardware that was used on “Feed Me Weird Things”. “Be Up A Hello” was also driven by the same hedonistic energy which is perfectly encapsulated in this pioneering album, the first tracks of which he recorded when he was only 19 years old.
Musically, “Feed Me Weird Things” is more expansive than the electronic sub-genres it was hemmed into at the time, as it was the first release where Tom Jenkinson highlighted his virtuosic bass playing. Like much of his output after, it also showcases disarmingly intricate melodic composition like on “Squarepusher Theme” and extraordinarily complex rhythmic sequences i.e. on “Tundra” whilst retaining an impressive cadence.
The album was a key release for Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) and Grant Wilson-Claridge’s Rephlex label and has gone on to be regarded as one of Squarepusher’s best. As well as a close friendship there was perhaps a bit of healthy competition between Squarepusher and Aphex Twin at the time (!Hangable Auto Bulb” was released in ‘95 and is cited as an influence). However, strong jazz influences and accomplished bass playing set Tom apart from his contemporaries. Richard curated the track list for “Feed Me Weird Things” from tapes that Tom had given him and the record includes sleeve notes written by him too, the only time he has done so for another artist.
“The Squarepusher is someone who wonders what the holes of a flute sound like without the flute. Sound like sound never sounded before, Richard Rodgers and Julie Andrews gave us the Sound of music, John Cage and Simon and Garfunkel gave us the Sound of silence and now the Squarepusher gives us the SOUND of SOUND.” - PRichard.D.Jams (taken from the original ‘Feed Me Weird Things’ sleevenotes)
TRACK LISTING
01 Squarepusher Theme
02 Tundra
03 The Swifty
04 Dimotane Co
05 Smedleys Melody
06 Windscale 2
07 North Circular
08 Goodnight Jade
09 Theme From Ernest Borgnine
10 U.F.O.'s Over Leytonstone
11 Kodack
12 Future Gibbon
13 Theme From Goodbye Renaldo
14 Deep Fried Pizza
