Tortoise - TNT

    Tortoise ‎– TNT

    26 Mar

    By

    Label: Thrill Jockey ‎– THRILL 050
    Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album
    Country: US
    Released: 1998
    Genre: Electronic, Rock
    Style: Post Rock

    Tortoise’s mostly instrumental music defies categorisation. The band incorporates styles of Krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica, and various jazz styles, rather than the standard rock and roll and punk. This sets them apart from most indie rock bands today.

    TNT, the band’s fourth album is a dense affair that will take more that one listen to appreciate the beauty this album has to offer. Opening with some lightly played drums and a guitar riff played by Jeff Parker, it has a dreamy jazz rock feel with layers added as the song progresses adding to the dense feel. The trumpet is a nice touch. It seems to float above all else.

    The second track ‘Swung From The Gutters’ is more up-tempo. They do a brilliant job at containing the dynamic of the track. From its percussive flair and to its avant-garde synth flourishes, it’s never in your face or obtrusive.

    Side one closes with something that Philip Glass or Steve Reich would gladly have on their records. A repeated glockenspiel rhythm laying the backbone while adding the “Tortoise” voicing of piano and guitar smoothly over the top.

    ‘I Set My Face To The Hillside’ has a uniquely Ennio Morricone Western feel, conjuring up images of a vast desert plain. Some people might find Tortoises music missing big dynamics. But for me, that’s where the magic of this band is. They way they contain the big swings within the songs and focus on the micro dynamics. It’s the way the instruments breathe and fill gaps. This is the genius of this band.

    I do hear the influence of German Krautrock legends CAN on this record, especially in the drumming. The Equator has a reggae feel that could easily belong on ‘Soon Over Babaluma’.

    Even though is this an instrumental record, each track speaks to you in a unique way. The sequencing of the songs on each side of this 2LP album seems perfect. From the minimally quiet, to the samba / Latin House feel to end Side three is marvellous. You seem to get sucked into the journey and the band takes you away. Only to come back to reality at the end of each side.

    ‘Almost Always Is Nearly Enough’ is where the band get truly experimental with electronics.  Reminiscent of Autechre or Aphex Twin, this is maybe the most upfront moment of the album. Tortoise have always embraced remixing and this track certainly shows their skills in this area. But it’s the way they bring it back down to the feel of the rest of the album where this track truly shines. Almost feels like putting on that favourite pair of jeans. They just seem to fit perfectly.

    Back in 1998 when this record was first released, I remember reading a review in the UK electronic music magazine, MUZIK. They reviewed it in their Chill Out / Down Tempo section. I could never work out why it was reviewed in the magazine and at the time struggled to define this music as Chill Out. But 22 years on, I think their review nailed it. This is Down Tempo music and today I DO chill out to this record.

    This album has been a favourite of mine since I bought it 22 years ago. And yes, it took me a few listens to understand it and to truly embrace the beauty. This album is all about the subtleties. It’s an album that takes time to click…..a personal journey that’s worth taking.

    Track listing

    A1 TNT
    A2 Swung From The Gutters
    A3 Ten-Day Interval
    B1 I Set My Face To The Hillside
    B2 The Equator
    B3 A Simple Way To Go Faster Than Light That Does Not Work
    C1 The Suspension Bridge At Iquazú Falls
    C2 Four-Day Interval
    C3 In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, And Beethoven There Were Women And Men
    D1 Almost Always Is Nearly Enough
    D2 Jetty
    D3 Everglade

     

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