Tortoise
The Catastrophist
[Thrill Jockey]
The Catastrophist marks the return of revered post-rock pioneers, Tortoise, following a near seven year hiatus. At their most potent, when straddling the line between jazz, rock and minimalist sonic adventuring, the greatest satisfaction elicited from Tortoise’s work comes from the unexpected left turns that populate their compositions and the intuitive, conversational nature of their instrumental interplay.
Speaking to the former, when it comes to shocking twists there are few more bracing than an the frankly bizarre science-fiction glam-rock interpretation of David Essex’s Rock On that appears early in the running order. This strangely po-faced exercise in ridiculousness, thankfully, falls just about short of totally derailing the album entirely. As for the latter, the chops on display quickly scupper any notions that the lads haven’t been practicing their scales over the last seven years and on the whole The Catastrophist boasts both finesse and oomph in equally healthy proportions.
Though never quite reaching the dizzying heights of the wonderful TNT or Millions Now Living Will Never Die, The Catastrophist, especially on it’s looping, synth driven moments, manages to achieve the levels of deceptively complex transcendence on which Tortoise have built their reputation up to this point. With this collection of considered, gently unfurling jams, Tortoise prove once again that slow and steady does indeed win the race…or something like that.
Words: Danny Wilson
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