Squarepusher

Over the past decade, British producer Tom Jenkinson -- the scruffy, bearded persona behind the Squarepusher guise -- has become an institution amongst left-field electronica fans. Few artists have digitally shattered the already wild drum 'n' bass form like he has, and -- as his sixth album, Ultravisitor, confirms -- none has duplicated the way he's swirled avant-noise and jazz-fusion into the mix. But that hardly pins the man down. While the title of Jenkinson's previous minialbum ostensibly spoke to the artist's mainstream obscurity, it also issued a challenge to his fans and critics that's still relevant: Do You Know Squarepusher?

Details

Cassette Boy and DJ Jonny J open

Friday, April 16, at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door

488-1580

www.zo ne-av.com

Avalon Ballroom, 1268 Sutter (at Van Ness), S.F.

Related Content

• Weekend Party Preview: Thundercat at Low End Theory, Creep at 120 Minutes, A Month of Funk, and More
  November 3, 2011
• Björk's Biophilia: A First Listen
  October 6, 2011
• Show Preview: Mount Kimbie
  September 22, 2010
• Mochipet on Wearing His Big Purple Dinosaur Suit, and Playing LovEvolution This Saturday
  September 22, 2011
• Friday's Pick: Eskmo with Dr. Strangeloop, Shlohmo, Teebs and Timeboy at Milk
  June 25, 2010

More About

• Tom Jenkinson
• Squarepusher
• Electronic Music

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

It's a fair question, considering how widely Jenkinson careens between moods and noise on Ultravisitor's 16 cuts. Yes, the record sports typical Squarepusher tracks that fold understated fusion solos on synth and guitar into the producer's ultrafast, distorted-but-melodic version of drum 'n' bass (often termed "drill 'n' bass"). But the album also dips unpredictably into some meditative moments, like the short classical guitar interlude "Andrei," and the fitful improv "I Fulcrum," played on electronically effected jazz guitar; it even includes some digitally singed futurist spoken word over the downtempo beats of "50 Cycles." It's Ultravisitor's dizzying title track, though, that reassures you that Jenkinson hasn't mellowed with age: He raises the tune out of a quietly droning mire, then lets the sinewy breakbeats fly, mixing in dense melody lines only to have them ricochet back, creating a wonderful sonic mess. Next he immerses half of the song in a beatless chord progression played on a church organ. Do we know Squarepusher? Ultravisitorlets us revel in the inescapable answer: hell no.