Remarkable, audacious full-length debut from Squarepusher, displaying his technical prowess as well as a wide range of contrasting emotions. Reissued with two bonus tracks.
With singer/songwriter Jeff Taylor returning with music under his own name in 2021, it's fine time to (re)discover this album, released under his band moniker. It features top-notch sidemen, some of whose stars have risen since its release, including drummer Mark Giuliana (David Bowie's Blackstar) and bassist Cole Whittle (DNCE). Elizabeth Ziman joins him on the heartbreaking duet "Howl You," a standout on a mercurial set that includes outraged blues-rock ("Bastard"), Les Claypool-esque funk-rock ("Repeat We Are"), clap-along pop ("It Swell"), and cynical electro-rock ('Heart Hard"). All the song titles make perfect sense within the syntax of the lyrics.
Does anyone really want to face the possibility that they'll wake up at three in the morning with a desperate need to hear "I've Got a Yum-Yum," "Bad Stuff Happens in the Bathroom," or "Lifting Up the Skirt of the Night" and have to deal with the whims of your cable provider or streaming service to satisfy that itch? Of course not. That's why every household needs this album!