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Artist profile
Tortoise
Tortoise formed in Chicago in the early 1990s with Doug McCombs on bass, Dan Bitney and John McEntire on drums, and David Pajo on guitar. They started playing...
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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Tortoise formed in Chicago in the early 1990s with Doug McCombs on bass, Dan Bitney and John McEntire on drums, and David Pajo on guitar. They started playing small venues and touring, gradually building a following with their live shows.
Their 1996 album "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" brought them critical attention, though some listeners found their approach too subtle or abstract. They followed it with records like "TNT" in 1998 and "Beacons of Ancestorship" in 2009, each continuing their exploration of instrumental textures and shifting rhythms.
One of their tracks, "God Lives Underwater," uses repetitive basslines and shimmering guitars to create a slowly unfolding instrumental piece. The title suggests something submerged or hidden, which fits with the band's tendency toward atmospheric, wordless music.
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