With a career spanning over 10 studio albums, countless remixes and collaborations since 1994, it's no wonder Squarepusher, a.k.a Tom Jenkinson, has and continues to have a significant impact on the electronic music scene globally. 

His latest effort, Just a Souvenir is a fusion of fresh jazzy bass slapping beats, glitch and synth driven futuristic melodies and the ubiquitous drum beat relentlessly thrusting each track along. 

On the first listen, there is a lot to take in. 

The album is an eclectic mix of 14 tracks, ranging from upbeat, robotic tunes such as ‘A Real Woman,’ an emotive Spanish-like guitar track 'Open Society,' to a tumultuous psychedelic trip in ‘Tensor in Green’ evocative of King Crimson's 1969 album In the Court of the Crimson King. 

An undeniable jazz influence exists; showcasing Jenkinson's passion and talent on the bass, ‘Potential Govaner’ and ‘Duotone Moonbeam’ highlight this especially. Passing through various genres Just A Souvenir is much a journey of electronic exploration, however, you can't help but wonder in what direction; clearly the mind-fucking essence that is Squarepusher, is far from relenting.

When citing his influences for the new album, Jenkinson delves into a deep description of a vivid ambiguous daydream: "This album started as a daydream about watching a crazy, beautiful rock band play an ultra-gig." 

He continues to illustrate what drove him to create Just A Souvenir, which after listening to on repeat; you begin to appreciate titbits of his vision. 

"Upon the stage was a group composed of five musicians.... I noticed that the drummer was an Eskimo. 

"They played instruments either of their own design or conventional ones that were modified such that they could be used to generate a range of sounds not typically associated with a rock band...

"One of the musicians appeared to be using a device attached to the body of his classical guitar that allowed him to accelerate or decelerate time in his immediate vicinity."

And if that does not intrigue you, not much else would.

All in all, Just A Souvenir is a tight collection of challenging, eccentric and, dare I say it, progressive tracks. 

It is not worth a listen, but several. 

There is power, soul and brain behind his compositions, which are sure to grow on you with each earful, leaving you with a quizzical guise, long after the CD has stopped playing.

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Tracklisting

1. Star Time 2

2. The Coathanger

3. Open Society

4. A Realy Woman

5. Delta-V

6.Aqueduct

7. Potential Govaner

8. Planet Gear

9. Tensor in Green

10. The Glass Road

11. Fluxgate

12. Duotone Moonbeam

13. Quadrature

14. Yes Sequitur