Tortoise announce new album “The Catastrophist” out 22nd January
Tortoise release first single Gesceap
Full European tour in February announced
“Tortoise enabled the cross-pollination we take for granted today, drawing on dub, post-punk, weird folk, jazz-fusion, progressive rock and dance music to open a Pandora’s box of possibilities” – The Sunday Times
“One of the most heralded names in modern American rock music” – Clash Music
“When Tortoise emerged from the American punk/lo-fi scene in 1993, they redefined the possibilities of rock” – The Guardian
Revered Chicago-based instrumental group Tortoise, comprised of Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Doug McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker, have spent 25 years making music that defies description. While the quintet have nodded to dub, rock, jazz, electronica and minimalism throughout their acclaimed and influential six-album discography, the resulting sounds have always been distinctly their own.
It’s a fact that remains true on the hotly anticipated forthcoming new album “The Catastrophist”, due out 22nd January via Thrill Jockey and Tortoise’s first studio album in nearly seven years. They have conjured sounds that aren’t being purveyed anywhere else in music today.
Recorded at McEntire’s famed Soma Studios, it’s an album where moody, synth-swept jams like the opening title track cosy up next to hypnotic, bass-and-beat missives like “Shake Hands With Danger” and a fantastic cover of David Essex’s 1973 hit song “Rock On” sung by U.S. Maple’s Todd Rittmann. Throughout, the songs on The Catastrophist transcend expectations as often as they delight the listen’s eardrums.
Rock On isn’t the only vocal moment on the album. Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubleydistinctive tones are on the bittersweet classic soul/R&B vibe ballad “Yonder Blue”. This also marks the first time a Tortoise album will feature a guest vocalist singing original lyrics.
“Gesceap”, the first track which you can hear from The Catastrophist, is a stunning seven-minute long, minimalist rhythmic piece, morphing from two gently intersecting synth lines into a pounding, frenzied full-band finish.
There’s a deeply intuitive interplay between the group that comes only from two decades of experimentation, revision and improvisation. At a time when our minds are constantly bombarded by myriad distractions, The Catastrophist reminds us that there’s something much greater out there. All we have to do is listen.
Tortoise announce first leg of European tour starting this February. Full list of dates can be viewed below, with more dates planned throughout the rest of 2016.
The Catastrophist will be released on 22nd January and available on CD / LP / DL.
Pre-order from Thrill Jockey Mailorder now including an exclusive opaque turquoise coloured vinyl and t-shirt designed by Tortoise’s own John Herndon:
http://thrilljockey.com/products/the-catastrophist
Tortoise February 2016 European Tour:
Sun 7th Feb Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega Jr – tickets
Mon 8th Feb Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik – tickets
Tue 9th Feb Berlin, Germany – Berghain – tickets
Wed 10th Feb Antwerp, Belgium – Trix – tickets
Thu 11th Feb Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli – tickets
Fri 12th Feb St. Gallen, Switzerland – Palace
Sat 13th Feb Geneva, Switzerland – Antigel Festival
Sun 14th Feb Zürich, Switzerland – Stall 6
Mon 15th Feb Reutlingen, Germany – franz.K – tickets
Tue 16th Feb Wien, Austria – Arena – tickets
Wed 17th Feb Budapest, Hungary – A 38 – tickets
Thu 18th Feb Zagreb, Croatia – Mochvara
Fri 19th Feb Bologna, Italy – Locomotiv Club
Sat 20th Feb Rome, Italy – Monk Club
Sun 21st Feb Milan, Italy – Magnolia Club
Tue 23rd Feb London, UK – Village Underground
North American March tour dates viewable from HERE
Available on CD / LP / DL
Tracklist:
9. Yonder Blue
10. Tesseract
11. At Odds With Logic
Tortoise profile page:
http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/tortoise
Gesceap on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/7ArKJ5k1Vnc
High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In (live):
https://vimeo.com/52566382
Tortoise on: Facebook / Official Website / Twitter / Instagram
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