Squarepusher – Vortrack

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Thomas Jenkinson is feeling mischievous as ever on his new Squarepusher EP Vortrack. Containing the original tune from Jenkinson and a Fracture remix by Squarepusher himself, this is a timely reminder that there are few out there who can match Jenkinson’s production chops.

The Fracture remix of ‘Vortrack’ manages to maintain the idiosyncrasies of the original while hammering it into a more dancefloor-friendly shape. Mind you, this is hardly your typical rave anthem - beginning with a fidgeting rhythm that is constantly being cut up by chunky bass hits, there are points where this mix's restless version touches on breakcore and IDM as much as it does classic jungle.

Rather than haring out of the blocks, ‘Vortrack’ actually reveals itself rather slowly, unfurling over the course of five-and-a-half minutes. It begins in rather disorientating fashion, a lopsided melange of kicks, hi-hats and acid bass that is pitched somewhere between Syro-era Aphex Twin and the discombobulating releases of Bjarki’s bbbbbb label. Rather than coalescing into a more streamlined groove, the track remains in this jittery holding pattern throughout, becoming increasingly agitated as widescreen reverb and choppy breaks are thrown into the mix. By the four-minute mark the centre can no longer hold and ‘Vortrack’ begins to break apart, eventually collapsing into a droning digital scree. It’s strange, it’s mesmerising, and it’s very distinctly Squarepusher.

Squarepusher in a playful mood on the new Vortrack EP.