Ceephax Acid Crew

b. Andrew Jenkinson, March 1979, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Andy Jenkinson aka Ceephax Acid Crew creates what he calls ‘squelchy electronic music’. The younger sibling of Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher fashions his curiously resonant music via a Roland TB-303, the transistor bass introduced in the early 80s and originally intended to emulate a real bass player but widely appropriated and abused as a sound source by enterprising dance musicians. After a series of EPs (predominantly featuring tracks with acid in the title), Ceephax Acid Crew finally released two albums in quick succession in 2003. The debut album was released via Breakin’ (the label run by Ed DMX) and compiled a disc’s worth of new tracks alongside the rare Breakin’ EPs, Bainted Smile and Radiotin. Curiously, the former EP included the track ‘Dennis Weaver Acid’, seemingly named after/inspired by the cult actor. Remarkably (given his association with a number of musicians, including his brother and the Aphex Twin, for whom polemicism often seems to be a prime motivation) much of Ceephax Acid Crew’s appeal lay in its creator’s restraint and subtlety. A rapid follow-up, Exidy Tours, sounded more unhinged. Issued via the Belgium-based Firstcask label, the release juxtaposed wistful melodies (albeit performed on the 303) with the kind of messy neo-jungle that suggested Jenkinson’s brother was an influence after all. Notably, Jenkinson is regularly cited as the Aphex Twin’s favourite artist.