Customer Reviews

Hard Normal Daddy

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thought I knew a thing or two about drum & bass until I was introduced to the tune "Beep Street." That song was my first taste of Tom Jenkinson, and I haven't been the same since. While I own almost all the Squarepusher albums, I'd have to say that this one is the easiest to digest. Where on some albums, Jenkinson can go off the deep end with music concrete that could make John Cage say, "I've had enough," this album shows him using his talents to give props to the jazz and fusion community. The results are wickedly ingenuitive, intelligent songs that can be understood in jazzy musical contexts (and actually groovy and catchy). Fans of--or creators of--music like Weather Report, Yellowjackets, even Chick Corea should definitely do themselves a favor and hear fusion for the digital age.

I don't know what to say about the dance aspect of this music. In Chicago, I will never see people dancing to stuff like this; if, however, in other places in the world people have a more open mind as to what has a groove, then more power to them. (Actually, in Chicago, I have never met a person who owns this album. Remind me to go to all the jazzers I went to college with and shove this album down their throats.)

Strangely, Hard Normal Daddy is probably Squarepusher's best album not because of what its got, but what its lacking. For probably the first and only time in his entire career, Hard Normal Daddy actually shows signs of restraint and actual consideration to composition and songs. This is not to take away from the stunning brilliance of the jazz indulgent Music Is Rotted One Note or the boarderline pyschotic sounds of Go Plastic. But when you strip him of his little mindsex gimicks, Jenkinson really does show of that not only does he have a knack for writting songs but writting really good ones too.

Like a more focused Feed Me Weird Things, Hard Normal Daddy runs the gamut of musical sounds and influences as he shows of that he loves old dub and electro as much as he loves the sound of his own drum programing. First thing that should be noticed by all is that most of the rough production edges of Feed Me Weird Things are gone. Replacing them are much crisper, fuller, and far more smoother sounds and melodies then before. Secondly, his blow your mind and ears frantic drum programing is actually toned down a bit. Sure its jawdroppingly fast and complex, but it doesn't go overboard which some of the tracks on Weird Things had.

The biggest shocker of all on Hard Normal Daddy is the suprising amount of melody and hooks found on the album. There are a suprisingly large amount of catchy tunes that lay ontop of the drum programing and hyperspeed bassplaying that actually make Hard Normal Daddy a blast to listen to. Even on some of the hardcore drum n' bass tracks(some of the shorter of the rank as some of my favorite Squarepusher tracks) are still melodically packed and fun to listen to. The whole CD finally displays some consistancy from a man who normal has one or two stinkers(if not more) per album. For all the characteristics normally present in a Squarepusher album, HND is surpisingly lacking in them, for better or worse.

Still I can see why Jenkinson started pushing his music in a different direction. With Hard Normal Daddy he really did push his evolution into a corner that would require something of a radical change to keep from stagnation. Whether that change is jazz fusion or a turn towards LFO inspired drill n' bass, Hard Normal Daddy will always represent a high point for Squarepusher's career and a highlight in the drum n' bass comunity. It doesn't define the genre like Roni Size's New Forms or Goldie's Timeless, but its still an exceptional work and probably his best yet.

I just bought this album a few days ago, but I wish I would have bought it a lot sooner. This is definately one of the best CD's I own. Squarepusher is amazing. His use of syncopated rhythms, fast drums, electric bass (which he plays himself) is superb. Most tracks are very Jazz influenced, and very intersting. It almost seems as if a live band is playing the whole time. Highly Recommended.

...it takes sizzling beats and drills them into your skull. There is some excellent musicianship happening on this album and only a couple of tracks fall a bit flat.

The best tracks for me are:

'Coopers World' - great way to start the album and the 'orchestral' feel of the development of the initial theme is very convincing
'Beep Street' - the synth washes over the jabbing beats are very engaging - great track!
'Rustic Raver' - the bassy synth beats accompanying the 'acoustic' ones are amazing
'Chin Hippy' - warped!!!!
'Fat Controller' - Starts like Autechre, changes into Coil-like industrial briefly, warps back into Autechre, then becomes its own weird blend of acid jazz and bleepy electronica - astonishing!
'Vic Acid' - one big climax!
'Male Pill Part 13' - luv it 'cos it's so jaunty and catchy. Has some great electric-piano work as it develops
'Rebus' - almost ambient - a fitting end to an almost consistently engaging musical journey

Having dabbled in jazz-fusion in my younger days - I am still a big fan of the Miles Davis 'Bitches Brew' fusion period and like the odd listen to Soft Machine, Brand X, Ian Carr and Nucleus and their ilk now and then - this album has a strange pull on me, despite my greater interest these days in the more dark ambient, or 'industrial' styles of electronica.

If you like this album, go right now to <www.psy-harmonics.com.au> and buy "F#c* Piece" by 'Nam Shub of Enki'. This album is like 'Hard Normal Daddy' on acid! An aural extravaganza that has a warped humour and 'driven' style that brings a huge smile to my face!

The above website also has a number of excellent Australian techno/ambient/electronica etc releases, as well as some other imported stuff not readily available elsewhere. See my review of Aphex Twin's 'Richard D James Album' for some suggestions.

I don't know any other Squarepusher albums, so can't comment on the Squarepusher 'style(s)', but I think I might sample some more... This album is well worth the outlay!

I remember what a find this was when I got it used a year ago - back then it wasn't available in the states... now, evidently, it is, which is great news for squarepusher fans as it may be Tom Jenkinson's best album to date.

The blend of frenetic 300+ bpm drum & bass/drill & bass and smooth jazzy melodies is hardly unique in the squarepusher catalogue, but this is the one cd that pulls it off most smoothly and eloquently, from the woderful cooper's world and beep street straight through fat controller and vic acid to the finish. The cd isn't as varied as it oculd be, but it hardly matters... this is a defining work of idm and no collection should be without it.

I used to have a tendancy to give great albums 5 stars. But a 5 star album has to be mind mending. This is a great album. I used to try to look for something specific when listening to this, but this is NOT a regular drum and bass album. If you're like me and expected to hear the kind of music you hear on Squarepusher's remixes, you will not find it here. This is a lot deeper. It's not just bob your head or dance music. It's a complete experience. Squarepusher shows some amazing production techniques especially with the drum samples. His atmospheric work on each track is very good too. If you really want to hear this album for what it is, you have to hear the whole thing at least a few times. Just the 30 second samples won't do it. I am looking forward to hearing more from Squarepusher, for sure.

This might be Squarepusher at his best, although I love most of his work.
However, Hard Normal Daddy is absolutely Squarepusher's most accessible album, and I think people shortchange how important that is. While a real drill and bass head may lean more towards Squarepusher's more recent works (which often defy comprehension in their colliding, imploding, and expanding soundscapes) this album has truly memorable melodies and arrangements that ANY listener can appreciate.
While it's certainly not as experimental or risky as some of his other works, the songs are still quite beautiful and are not at all SIMPLISTIC. This album has a jazzier, more traditional musical feel (that on a few tracks runs a little too frighteningly close to smooth jazz...ewww...but thankfully never crosses the line) than any of his other works.
The highlights of the album:
Beep Street- Maybe my favorite Squarepusher song ever, definitely one of my all time favorites by any artist. It presses forward yet has a dreamlike, nostalgic quality that makes it a beautiful piece.
Papalon- Jazziest piece on the album, and absolutely wonderful...
E8 Boogie- A very deceptive track, constantly evolving, always awesome, one of the more adrenaline pumping tracks.
Male Pill, Pt. 13- This and Beep Street are the best tracks, and two of SP's finest tracks ever to boot. This track just continues to grow, and every time you think it's gone as far as it can, it swells a little bigger until you find yourself completely overwhelmed wth it...

Squarepusher doesn't rely here on what later became his quintessential beat-stumbling-over-itself breaks and heart exploding effects (although on a few tracks like Chin Hippy and Vic Acid you can certainly hear them developing) instead he uses basic songcraft to creat an album that is memorable, original, beautiful, and in many ways more mature than his later work.

You have to realy be open for music to dig squarepusher. I don't like everyhing Tom Jensinson (Tom Jenkinson=Squarepusher) has done, but this album is amazing. The combination of jazz, techno, drum & bass and soul is realy unique. Listening it the first time I was a bit confused; I had not heard anything like this before. The album is mellow and loud at the same time, which gives you a strange feeling. You should listen it intensive for a couple of times like I did. Now I recommend this album to everyone. the first two songs are the less freakiest: You can even dance on it! But their both realy good though. Coopers world is a funky stuctured drum track. On this opening track you will also hear that Jenkinson is a fabulous bass player! The second song is kind of a drum & bass song although the jazzy and mellow keys make it sound much more warmer than the usual drum & bass I know. The rest of the album is more progessive. Altough I like the whole album I do have my favourites. 'Papalon' is the most jazz orientated song. It has a realy warm sound. The jazz melodies on the keys, the brilliant bass-track and the rhythemly freaky but mellow sounded drums makes this defenetly one of my favourite songs on the album. Antoher favourite is 'Rustic Raver'. This shows you the roots of squarepusher: freaky beats with funky techno sounds over it. I can review every song but I will not. I tried to give you an impression. You should listen it yourself!

Tom Jenkinson's WARP full length follow up to 'Feed Me Weird Things' turns up the jazz elements of the earlier albums while retaining the insane drill'n'bass rhythms but dropping some of the more experimental (and possibly obnoxious elements of 'Feed Me...'). This makes for an album that is a more consistant listen, and though it doesn't reach the lows of obnoxiousness that 'Feed Me Weird Things' occassionally hit it also doesn't have the same level of brilliant highs from the earlier record. But that's like complaining about the difference in color of two faberge eggs. No matter how you cut it 'Hard Normal Daddy' is still brilliant, and a great album for anyone who is into d'n'b, idm, or good off-the-beaten-path jazz. And, his patent live electric bass is still present on this record. Check it out.

I remember first listening to this cd in middle school. I didn't really get it that well for all i listened to was Korn. I liked some of the songs though. Now i can't stop from listening to it. It was definately one of squarepushers best cd's and everyone should have a copy of it. It is definately his more Jazzy works in his earlier years. His previous cd's like Feed Me Weird Things and Burning 'n' Tree are good but this is a much perfected art that he has made.