Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise's sophomore release,Millions Now Living Will Never Dieshows off an unlikely blossoming of talent. The Chicago instrumental band makes clear withMillionswhat their eponymousdebutbrushed in broad strokes: this is the musical legacy of the ties between experimental art music and postpunk. The sonic environments are entirely woven from percussion, basses, and occasional keyboards--all of it thrown through the blender of electronic sampling and manipulation at various points. Hypnotic, some would say, and an attempt at mirroringSteve Reichor evenCan, others would note. But Tortoise demonstrate their singular vision, one that would spawn many more all-instrumental alt-rock visions. Dub bass hints, keyboard darts and dashes, strange flashes of heartbeat rhythms--it all comes together onMillionsin a manner that's hard to forget and easy to dive through.--Andrew Bartlett