Budakhan Mindphone

Released in 1999, Budakhan Mindphone serves as a companion piece to the full-length 'Music Is Rotted One Note', representing Tom Jenkinson's deep dive into live instrumentation and analog recording techniques. Departing from the 'drill 'n' bass' style that made him a Warp Records icon, this mini-album finds Jenkinson playing almost every instrument himself, with a heavy emphasis on his signature fretless bass work. The recording quality is intentionally lo-fi and 'boxy', mimicking the aesthetic of early 70s jazz-fusion experiments by the likes of Miles Davis or Weather Report. Critically, it was seen as a challenging but necessary evolution, proving that Squarepusher's complexity was not merely a result of computer programming but a fundamental aspect of his musicianship. While some fans missed the high-speed breakbeats, the album has aged as a testament to Jenkinson's versatility and his ability to conjure thick, moody atmospheres using traditional instruments.