10 Tortoise

The Catastrophist

THRILL JOCKEY, 2016

You say: “A great record, playful even, showing the band’s complex yet emotive virtuosity.” Keith Giblin, via Twitter

Tortoise released their first four group albums between 1994 and 2001. But in the last 20 years, busier than ever with so many other projects, they’ve only managed three more. 2004’s It’s All Around You is frequently undervalued, but this most recent set is an especially satisfying reunion: heavier on the synths than of old (note prog electronica high mass, Gesceap), but with plenty of the trademark nimbleness. And, in a radical shift, vocals, courtesy of Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley and Dead Rider’s Todd Rittman. The latter excels on an industrial squelch-funk rewiring of David Essex’s Rock On, mysteriously erased from streaming versions of The Catastrophist.

4 Tortoise

A Lazarus Taxon

THRILL JOCKEY, 2006

You say: “Gamera is pretty much perfect.” Stuart Braithwaite, via Facebook

For a survey of Tortoise’s awesome range, this 3-CD+DVD box set of singles, remixes, rarities and assorted critical ephemera is pretty much essential. Pride of place goes to Gamera/Cliff Dweller Society, two epic tracks (11:53 and 15:23) first released on a 1995 12-inch for Stereolab’s Duophonic label. A propulsive collage of folk, motorik, jazz, dub, musique concrète et al that significantly expanded the concept of post-rock, MOJO readers overwhelmingly named Gamera as their favourite Tortoise track in this survey. Worth sticking around for the other 33 pieces, of course, not least covers of Duke Ellington and Joy Division (Didjeridoo and As You Said) and two Autechre remixes that cement Tortoise’s bond with the ’90s electronic avant-garde.