Tortoise: TNT

In just a short period of time, Tortoise has released three albums, a few singles, and several remix EPs, and become respected internationally as the epitome of "post-rock" on the basis of its often unclassifiable and constantly evolving sound. Each of Tortoise's releases sounds transitory, and this in-between quality has become a trademark of sorts. Tortoise approaches amorphous, abstract sounds with a formalist intent, playing sometimes wildly imaginative music while enthusiastically borrowing from such obvious sources as Brian Eno (textural ambient music), Ennio Morricone (soundtracks), Steve Reich (mallet-percussion minimalism), and even Miles Davis (reconfigured funk-jazz) for inspiration. But where the band's highly touted Millions Now Living Will Never Die seemed content with coldly accurate imitation, TNT is on another level entirely. Percussionist/producer John McEntire's inspired studio trickery nears that of the legendary Teo Macero, who often radically re-edited and reconfigured many of Davis' more "out" jams. Also, the addition of guitarist Jeff Parker is not immediately apparent, which is a good thing: Tortoise's members favor general anonymity over flashy individuality, adding to the cohesive nature of their compositions. This is the kind of mood music musicians made in the '70s when asked to envision what the music of the future will sound like. TNT, despite its overt references to the past, is ultimately anchored to no particular era, and the album's buried details gradually float to the surface like bobbing beacons left for those lost in a sea of sound.