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Be Up a Hello
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Be Up a Hello Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: The first new solo full-length studio release in five years for the British electronic artist features vintage analogue equipment.
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  • Record Label: Warp
  • Genre(s): Electronic, Electronica, Pop/Rock, IDM, Jungle/Drum'n'Bass, Experimental Jungle, Drill'n'bass
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Dusted Magazine
    Feb 13, 2020
    80
    Your response to Be Up A Hello will depend on your tolerance for Squarepusher’s virtuosic onslaughts. It can be as exhausting as it’s exhilarating. If there’s a sameness to the BPM readings of the up-tempo tracks a deeper listen reveals the layers that are buried beneath the frenzy and show Squarepusher has lost none of his edge.
  2. AllMusic
    Jan 29, 2020
    80
    After several records of heady composition and high-concept music, Be Up a Hello is refreshingly direct. Without simply revisiting a bygone golden era, Jenkinson reconsiders some of his old ways, taking some of his more familiar ideas to new, strange places. As always.
  3. The Line of Best Fit
    Jan 28, 2020
    80
    On the whole, the album is excellent. It’s a return to what Squarepusher is known most prominently for but his style has developed since the '90s.
  4. The Quietus
    Feb 4, 2020
    80
    Be Up a Hello is Jenkinson’s strongest album for a decade and is easily up there with his best work.
  5. Beats Per Minute
    Mar 25, 2020
    78
    Be Up a Hello can be a lot to take in at times, a rambunctious and restless effort from a man comfortable in his ability to make the dancefloor obsolete. But there’s more here than simply speed and density – there are strange currents working their way through the songs, hints are something deeper and more relatable than its superficial excess might suggest.
  6. The Wire
    Feb 5, 2020
    70
    The nine tracks here compact his characteristic baroque late jungle excesses into compact, juddering frames. While they still rarely swing, their frenetic motion carries bent and warping keys, rolling breakbeats and maddened blarps of synth towards a clear endpoint. [Feb 2020, p.58]
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  7. Mojo
    Jan 28, 2020
    60
    As restless and fidgety as ever. [Feb 2020, p.91]
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See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Thumbass
    Feb 14, 2020
    9
    Definetely Squarepusher's best in a decade. Every song is a banger. Also, the ambient songs are beautiful as well. Very technical and a greatDefinetely Squarepusher's best in a decade. Every song is a banger. Also, the ambient songs are beautiful as well. Very technical and a great listen from front to back!… Expand
  2. DJScottthebot
    Jul 31, 2023
    9
    Super Glitchy and good at catching you off guard. This is a modern classic of Squarepusher. Drill n bass, absolute chaos and some hauntingSuper Glitchy and good at catching you off guard. This is a modern classic of Squarepusher. Drill n bass, absolute chaos and some haunting gorgeous background synths.… Expand
  4. smolheartbigpp
    Aug 1, 2020
    7
    oberlove is a bad start with boring chord progressions, but the album is great after it.
    Ambient cuts are good alone but they don't fit in    oberlove is a bad start with boring chord progressions, but the album is great after it.
    Ambient cuts are good alone but they don't fit in the tracklist properly and disrupt the momentum.    … Expand
  5. Lajaleaa
    Mar 22, 2020
    6
    ( 65/100 )

    Definitivamente de lo más desorganizado, sin propósito, aburrido y pesado que he escuchado. Tom Jenkinson apenas le da velocidad    ( 65/100 )

    Definitivamente de lo más desorganizado, sin propósito, aburrido y pesado que he escuchado. Tom Jenkinson apenas le da velocidad y espacio a su visión y lo vomita todo en un proyecto que muy pocos podrán disfrutar. Se me hace difícil imaginar poder disfrutarlo en un club y se me hace difícil imaginar alguna narrativa con su música, probablemente esa sea su deficiencia, la semejanza que tiene con una experiencia encriptada que no ofrece garantía alguna de que valga la pena tener.
    -
    Definitively one of the most unorganized, purposeless, heavy and boring things I've heard. Tom Jenkinson barely gives speed and space to his vision and pukes it all in a project that very few will be able to enjoy. It's difficult for me to imagine that it can be enjoyed in a club and its hard to imagine any kind of storyline with this music. Probably that's why it's deficient, because of the similarity it has with an encrypted experience that doesn't give you any guaranty of it being worthy of your attention.    … Expand
  6. Kebber10
    Feb 1, 2020
    5
    Listened to oberlove and hitsonu.. probably more suited to listeners under 15.. high energy but too manic for my ears

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