Tortoise

Overview

No matter how much the term 'post rock' may still continue to irk, Tortoise are the influential people to blame for forcing some underpaid music journo to unleash it onto the post-Krautrock-progressive-experimental-instrumental world all those years ago. A band comprised over time of members of Slint, Sea & Cake, The For Carnation and many more (let's no-one mention Zwan), Tortoise remains one slow, amazing beast. Formed in 1990, they rose rhythmically to the forefront of the Chicago/Thrill Jockey scene, releasing only six full-length albums over the last twenty years, but each one a gem.

Cycling through different interests and moods, Tortoise have explored jazz and electronica and, moving away from their noticeably non-vocal music, released a covers record in 2006 with Bonnie Prince Billy. Their twists and turns have won heapings of critical praise and a rabid (more mature nod-along than Bieber fever) fanbase. Tortoise curated an early All Tomorrow's Parties festival and are scheduled to play the New York version later this year by way of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. In the meantime, they play one show in Sydney, touted to be a truly special occasion.