Released 28 years ago this October
Music Is Rotted One Note
Squarepusher · 1998
48 min · 15 tracks · electronic music
A dense tapestry of glitchy beats and melodic explorations, merging elements of jazz and electronic experimentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Chunk-S — Opening the album with frenetic energy, this track sets a tone of chaotic brilliance that encapsulates Squarepusher's signature style.
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Circular Flexing — This track showcases intricate beat structures combined with melodic layers, reflecting the album’s thematic exploration of rhythm and harmony.
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My Sound — As one of the longer compositions on the album, it delves deeper into Squarepusher's sonic palette, blending intense beats with lush melodies that evoke emotional resonance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases innovative sound design and complex rhythms, making it a notable entry in electronic music.
What we noticed
- The album features complex, syncopated rhythms that shift frequently, creating a sense of unpredictability.
- Each track is built around intricate layers of glitchy sounds and melodic fragments, often blending jazz-inspired motifs with electronic textures.
- Several tracks incorporate abrupt transitions and tempo changes, which challenge the listener's expectations and maintain engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic exploration of sound
- wave-like pacing throughout
- frequent shifts in energy
- short, immersive listening sessions
- layered, dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1998, Music Is Rotted One Note marked Squarepusher's fourth studio album, coming on the heels of his acclaimed previous work, Hard Normal Daddy. By this time, he had established himself as a pivotal figure in the electronic music scene, known for pushing the boundaries of drum and bass and incorporating live instrumentation into his productions.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Amon Tobin· Aphex Twin· Venetian Snares
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Chunk-S 2:20
- 2 Don’t Go Plastic 4:20
- 3 Dust Switch 4:28
- 4 Curve 1 2:06
- 5 137 (Rinse) 3:45
- 6 Parallelogram Bin 2:24
- 7 Circular Flexing 4:57
- 8 Ill Descent 2:37
- 9 My Sound 6:07
- 10 Drunken Style 0:45
- 11 Theme From Vertical Hold 4:25
- 12 Ruin 1:56
- 13 Shin Triad 2:26
- 14 Step 1 1:46
- 15 Last Ap Roach 4:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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