New Music From Tortoise

Members of Tortoise have graced the pages of Tape Op for years. We interviewed John McEntire in 2001 for issue #23, and more recently we covered Jeff Parker's ETA IVtet album Way Out Of Easy. Although it is just one song, I was excited to see that Tortoise is releasing new music and that there is more to come!

The "new jazz" movement is a great space right now. It showcases the multiple and varied influences of a new generation of musicians. Tortoise has been exploring the space for decades, infusing post-punk elements with interesting instrumentation and presentations. Their latest single, "Oganesson", is a spacious offering with ambient keys, a drum and bass-influenced groove, and chord changes and tones reminiscent of Bright Size Life-era Pat Metheny. We're looking forward to more from Tortoise in 2025.