Tortoise

Tortoise is an instrumental group from Chicago, United States, active since 1990. Its line-up includes David Pajo, Bundy K. Brown, Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker.

Style and formation

The group develops an almost entirely instrumental sound that crosses post-rock, experimental rock, instrumental music, electronica and jazz rock. It emerges from Chicago’s indie rock and punk scene, and from the late 1980s partnership between Douglas McCombs and John Herndon, who first imagine a freelance rhythm section modelled in part on reggae duo Sly and Robbie. That idea does not continue in that form, but Tortoise forms in 1990 and becomes one of the first American indie rock bands to draw on Krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica and jazz rather than conventional rock and punk.

Early releases

The group issues its first single in 1993 and follows it with a self-titled debut album the next year. Early recordings are largely mid-tempo and instrumental, and the band gains attention partly through its unusual instrumentation, including two bass guitars and three percussionists moving between drums, vibraphones and marimbas. A remix release, Rhythms, Resolutions and Clusters, follows.

Line-up changes and key albums

Bundy K. Brown leaves and is replaced by David Pajo, formerly of Slint, before the 1996 album Millions Now Living Will Never Die. That record brings a wider breakthrough and includes the 20-minute track “Djed”. Brown later returns to the wider Tortoise story through related projects, while Pajo is later replaced by Jeff Parker, whose background is in jazz.

TNT appears in 1998 and is often treated as the group’s most jazz-influenced album. Standards follows in 2001 and uses more electronic sounds and post-production than earlier records. It’s All Around You is released in 2004.

Collaborations and related projects

In 2006, Tortoise records The Brave and the Bold, an album of covers with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Related acts associated with the group include The Sea and Cake, Brokeback, Shrimp Boat, Isotope 217 and the Chicago Underground Duo. Tortoise records for Thrill Jockey.

Critical standing

The group gains significant attention early in its career and appears on many year-end best-of lists with Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Its music is noted for combining experimental methods with clear melodic and textural detail rather than sounding like a simple mix of styles.