Thrill Jockey / USA / 2016
After a seven-year hiatus, the legendary Chicago quintet Tortoise returns with The Catastrophist, an album that reinforces their status as masters of genre-defying instrumental music. Originally sparked by a 2010 commission from the City of Chicago to explore the city's jazz and improv roots, these compositions evolved at John McEntire’s Soma Studios into complex, orchestrated studio recordings that blend moody synth-swept jams with hypnotic, bass-heavy grooves.
The Catastrophist showcases the band's signature fusion of dub, rock, and minimalism, while venturing into new territory. The album features a blistering, frenzied energy in tracks like "Gesceap," the "funktastic" dance beats of "Hot Coffee," and—in a rare move for the band—vocal contributions. These include a soulful ballad featuring Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) and a surreal cover of David Essex’s "Rock On" sung by Todd Rittmann (U.S. Maple).