Seems there’s a burst of activity in the camp of Chicago quintet Tortoise, with the news that the band will be releasing a new album, titled ‘The Catastrophist’ and out on January 22nd next year via their label, the brilliant Thrill Jockey. They’ve garnered the support of friends such as Maple/Dead Rider’s Todd Rittman who sings a (whats described as) downright strange cover version of David Essex’s 1073 hit ‘Rock On’, as well as Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley, who appears on the track.
It’ll mark (just about) 25 years of gathering in influences ranging from dub to progressive rock, jazz, electronica, synth pop, post rock and minimalism, effectively creating something that’s almost impossible to describe, let along pigeonhole. From it they’ve released Gesceap, a track that sways from straight up electronic/synth based post rock, to a whirling, repetitive minimal ‘wig out’ full of growling guitar and military sounding drumming, and if that sounds far fetched, check it out.
In addition, Thrill Jockey are reissuing the bands previous six albums on limited coloured vinyl. These include an opaque brown coloured version of the bands 1994 self titled debut, 2001’s Standards, pressed on Red vinyl with a white spatter, and a clear vinyl press of their last full length record, Beacons of Ancestorship from 2009.
The world needs Tortoise. Welcome back.
www.trts.com
