Music for Robots

Released in 2014, Music for Robots is a collaborative project between Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher) and the Z-Machines, a team of roboticists from Japan. The EP features five tracks composed specifically for a three-piece robot band consisting of a guitarist with 78 fingers and a drummer with 22 arms. This setup allowed Jenkinson to explore rhythmic and melodic complexities that are physically impossible for human performers to achieve. While Squarepusher is known for his own superhuman bass playing, this record shifts the focus to the mechanical precision of his compositions. The project was born out of a desire to see if robots could convey emotion through music, resulting in a blend of IDM, future jazz, and funk that is both technically staggering and surprisingly expressive. It stands as a unique entry in his discography, bridging the gap between his experimental electronic roots and his later interest in automated performance.