I’m so very thrilled about the new Tortoise album, Beacons of Ancestorship, coming out June 23 on Thrill Jockey Records.
It’s the Chicago experimental post-rock band’s first album in six years, and it was worth the wait.
For example, the lead track, “High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In,” is an 8 minute plus meandering instrumental delight that sets the pace and tenor for the album by 1) kicking off with a head nodding groove, 2) melding the groove into a panicky alarm crescendo, and 3) fading out with aural ambience.
I just drooled all over my mousepad. It’s a sick mess over here.
Tortoise : “Prepare Your Coffin” (mp3)
Tortoise : “High Class Slim Floatin’ In” (mp3)
This is the Tortoise I fell in love with 13 years ago with Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Fans of TNT and Standards who didn’t quite get into the Tortoise/Bonnie Prince Billy collaboration, The Brave and the Bold, will surely dig Beacons of Ancestorship. And hopefully new fans will take it upon themselves to explore the group’s 20+ year back catalog.
Only great bands find a great formula and then continually break it — making better music, exploring boundaries and whatnot. Tortoise is one of those bands.
I feel bad for the neglected stacks of new CDs in the corner. Beacons is going to be on repeat for the next few weeks. Yum.
I better stock up on paper towels.
Catch Tortoise at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on Friday, July 17th.
