Squarepusher

Squarepusher is the principal pseudonym adopted by Tom Jenkinson (born 17 January 1975), a UK-based recording artist. His compositions draw on a number of influences including drum and bass, acid house, jazz and electroacoustic music. His recordings are typified by a combination of electronic sound sources, live instrumental playing and digital signal processing. He is the brother of Ceephax Acid Crew (Andrew Jenkinson).

Early life

Tom Jenkinson grew up in Chelmsford, Essex. The first school he attended was affiliated with Chelmsford Cathedral giving him exposure to organ music, which he has subsequently acknowledged as an influence on his work. He took an interest in music very early in life, and simultaneously became interested in music reproduction equipment.

Much of his early experience of music was from scanning through various radio stations for anything that caught his ear irrespective of style or genre, and he was also fascinated by radio static and amplitude modulation artefacts on the Short Wave band.

Warp (record label)

Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is an independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, specialising in experimental electronic music and Intelligent dance music.

Warp was founded by Steve Beckett and the late Rob Mitchell, who had both gained experience working at Sheffield's FON record shop, alongside record producer Robert Gordon. The name was chosen because the original name, 'Warped Records', was difficult to distinguish over the telephone. Warp soon became home to artists who would be influential in electronic music.

History

1989-1995

The first release (WAP1) was by Forgemasters (produced by Robert Gordon), whose 500 copy pressing of "Track with no Name" was financed by an Enterprise Allowance grant and distributed in a borrowed car. It set a trend for the early releases both in terms of sound, and the use of purple sleeves (designed by The Designers Republic). The follow-up was Nightmares on Wax's "Dextrous", which sold around 30,000 copies. This led to greater commercial success; by its fifth release the label had its first Top 20 chart entry with LFO and their eponymous single, "LFO", which sold 130,000 copies and peaked at #12 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1990; by coincidence, that same month another Warp act, Tricky Disco, reached #14 in the UK chart with another eponymous single, "Tricky Disco".

Blue Zoo

Blue Zoo are a British new wave band, active between 1980 and 1985, and again since 2010.

Career

Formed in 1980, their original band name was Modern Jazz, and they released two singles entitled "In My Sleep (I Shoot Sheep)" and "Ivory Towers" in 1981.

The nucleus of the band were Andy O (Overall) on vocals, Tim Parry on guitar, Mike Ansell on bass and Mickey Sparrow on drums.

Matthew Flowers (formerly of new wave band Sore Throat) accompanied the band live on keyboards, with Pete Lancaster occasionally on trumpet and Steve Pond from Inner City Unit playing occasional synthesizer.

Tim Parry later went on to become a record producer and work in artist management.

Blue Zoo had three hit singles which charted in the UK. "I'm Your Man" reached #55 in June 1982 and in October 1982, "Cry Boy Cry" reached the Top 20, peaking at #13, becoming the band's biggest hit. It stayed on the UK Singles Chart's Top 40 for eight weeks. "(I Just Can't) Forgive And Forget" reached #60 in May 1983.

Although failing to chart, the much acclaimed single, "Love Moves In Strange Ways" was a single of the week in NME.