Artist Profile: Tortoise
A dive into the legacy and musical world of Tortoise
Playlist of selections from across Tortoise’s catalog:
Spotify / Tidal
Video transcription:
From the group's inception in Chicago, Illinois in 1990 and having remained active through to the present time (April 2025), Tortoise is critically considered as one of the most deeply-influential and tonally-distinct music groups of the last 40 years; with a wide-reaching impact on and amid the contemporary, independent American music scene.
The band was originally formed by bassist Douglas McCombs alongside Dan Bitney, John Herndon, and John McEntire. Early iterations of the group through the first few years of recordings featured Bundy K. Brown and David Pajo, who was later replaced by Jeff Parker. Other groups related to Tortoise through its quintet of members include Eleventh Dream Day, The Poster Children, The Sea and Cake, Brokeback, Pullman, Slint, Isotope 217, Broken Social Scene, Papa M, Bastro, Gastr del Sol, Black Duck and the Chicago Underground Duo, among others.
Pitchfork says: “Tortoise floats free, a planchette moving over a Ouija board guided by 10 sets of fingers, where everyone watches the arrow float in one direction but no one is quite sure how it gets there or who is doing the pushing.”
As Tortoise rose to prominence in their early career, their instrumental music has been noted for its ambiguous categorization. The members all having roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, and played in various indie rock and punk rock groups. Tortoise was among the first American indie rock bands to incorporate styles closer to krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica and various jazz styles, rather than the strong rock and roll roots that had dominated the scene in the 90s. Elements in the music vacillate stylistically between progressive rock, cerebral electronica and assemblages of jazz—all the while venturing at times into cinematic motifs of surf and desert rock of the open American southwest. Tortoise has also been cited as one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the post-rock movement.
Their aesthetic and vision also at times aligns with and nods to an almost punk ethos in their overt disregard for any pandering to trend or zeitgeist. The sound is wholly unique, blending the core around heavy rhythmic elements like marimba and vibraphone. The group also often invokes two drummers playing simultaneously. These cornerstones always woven with threads of bass, guitar and a mix of synthesizers, drum machines and samplers.
For myself, Tortoise is the music that essentially broke open my musical brain. I was raised on folk, classic rock with some tinges of new age mixed-in from my parents, then found my own place as a young record collector and music lover with hair and thrash metal, punk, hardcore and early 90s alternative music. In the summer of 1995 I heard the music of Tortoise for the first time. It was their Self-Titled release which came out the previous year; their first full-length, released on the then-young Thrill Jockey label (with whom they'd go on to release the bulk of their catalog through).
I heard these sounds that at once felt alien, other-worldly, brimming with electricity. It was comforting, like it was already etched inside of me somehow. It felt familiar but also totally far outside of anything I knew was even possible with music. It fused repetitive hooks and melodies, juxtaposed with found-sounds, field recordings and minimal synthesizers centered around hypnotic drumming and bass motifs often doled out in odd time signatures. It was effortless and restrained; simultaneously challenging and bizarrely alluring. I couldn't really find words or thoughts to understand what I was hearing. From that point since, I've been an avid follower and fan of Tortoise and deem them integral to the way I think about music and sound— both as a listener but also as a composer in regards to the music I create myself.
The Chicago Tribune called Tortoise’s sound, “mood music that refuses to be shoved into the background, as inviting as it is challenging.” They've released seven full-length albums and a lush mix of EPs, remixes, collaborations and both 7 and 12" singles over the 30+ year career. Tortoise has steadily and intuitively evolved across its life, creating genre-less music that is as timeless as it is ahead of the curve. Their unique sound garnered them immediate reception and popularity, notably in Japan, where the group would regularly tour and release special versions of specific tracks and albums.
[Vinyl & CD flip-through]
As most artists who began their careers in the height of the CD boom of the 90s, you can still find the catalog on CD with minimal effort on third-party markets. Thrill Jockey did some 20-yr anniversary represses of their first few albums but these, along with the original pressings are becoming more rare as time moves on. Their visual aesthetic is deeply considered—always centered in sparse graphics assembled with ample amounts of negative space and a deft emphasis on cohesion of color palette and striking typography. I picked up most of their 7" singles at various shows throughout the late 90s. I also have this two-part 7" release that unfolds and connects to create a larger image: one of the rare pieces of music-related memorabilia I have framed in my studio.
The bulk of Tortoise's catalog was produced and engineered by drummer John McEntire at his SOMA studio in Chicago. In the spring of 2012, my group Balmorhea had the opportunity to record about 1/2 of the music for our album Stranger at SOMA. Many of the instruments on that record are from John and Tortoise's collection. As of the early 2020s, McEntire has relocated his SOMA studio to Portland, Oregon and continues to engineer and mix records for such artists as Stereolab, Will Oldham, Yo La Tengo, Wilco, and Spoon.
The band’s legacy greatly transcends its recorded output from the studio. Per the New York Times: “While Tortoise’s albums have experimented with the editing and overdubbing possibilities of the studio, the band thrives performing in real time.” Rolling Stone deems Tortoise, “a live marvel.” Their live footprint consists of a well-orchestrated but nebulous web of analog vintage synths, vibraphone, marimba, double drum kits, and a vast array of basses and auxiliary rigs placed around the stage. Each song often finds the members shifting positions and each playing up to 4 or 5 instruments throughout a set. As a spectator, it's a captivating and impressive array of talent that all becomes immediately cohesive; a testament to the magical alchemy between these players and their innate musical connections and communication techniques.
While Tortoise now tours infrequently, I had the pleasure of seeing them play probably a dozen times since the late 90s; including a special anniversary performance of their album TNT at Pitchfork's MidWinter festival at the Art Museum of Chicago in 2018, where they performed that classic album in its entirety. My group Balmorhea also got the chance to be their opening act once in Austin and again at the Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh. Subsequently, we also had the honor of having Doug's group Brokeback play with us in Chicago many years ago at the famous Empty Bottle venue. Doug has remained a friend and also performed the Bass VI on the track "Mirror 5" on my Mirror Music release from 2024.
Tortoise's music continues to hold its own niche within the instrumental, contemporary space. Each release intentionally moving the needle and pushing the envelope in all directions whilst retaining and staying true to their sound. Tortoise defines the multi-hyphenate in genre and categorization and must be experienced and interpreted on an individual basis. Any written description or articulation of the music will do little justice. For those who already know this music, you know what a special sonic place they hold in the world. For those who are new to this music, I highly recommend starting early in their career and moving forward—TNT is a good place to begin for a consensus of timbre and tone.
At the time of recording this video, Tortoise have just announced a new album-their first in over 8 years-which will be released at some point in the near future as a split-release on Intl. Anthem / Nonesuch.
Music in the background:
Tortoise — In A Thimble (Reach The Rock)
Tortoise — Find The One (Bundy K. Brown Remix)
Relevant Links:
Tortoise on Discogs
Tortoise on Thrill Jockey
TNT full-album performance (Chicago, 2019)
TNT Album Review (Pitchfork)
Interview with John McEntire (Tape Op)
Balmorhea
Brokeback
Mirror Music