Description
2024 reissue, 3×12″ LP, Warp Records. 20th anniversary numbered edition.
Squarepusher’s Ultravisitor, now celebrating its 20th anniversary with a triple vinyl reissue, is a dense, sprawling work that showcases Tom Jenkinson’s mastery of electronic experimentation. Released in 2004, this nearly 80-minute album fuses drum-n-bass, jazz, and live instrumentation, while exploring everything from melodic electro-pop to chaotic improvisation. It offers a comprehensive glimpse into Squarepusher’s world, touching on every facet of his sound, making it feel like the culmination of his career up to that point. Tracks like the title piece and ‘Iambic 9 Poetry’ demonstrate his ability to blend complex rhythms with melodic layers, while ’50 Cycles’ veers into noise-laden abstraction, hinting at genre reinvention. Jenkinson’s virtuosic bass work shines on songs like ‘I Fulcrum’, and even his guitar compositions, such as ‘Andrei’, show his versatility. Despite its many strengths, Ultravisitor can feel bloated, with some improvisations overstaying their welcome. Yet, its sheer ambition and range are undeniable, offering an album both challenging and captivating, and the highlights reaffirm why Squarepusher remains a key figure in electronic music.
