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Tortoise is an instrumental rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1990.

Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in various indie rock and punk groups. Tortoise was among the first American indie rock bands to incorporate styles closer to Krautrock, dub, minimalism, electronica, and various jazz styles, rather than the standard rock and roll and punk that had dominated indie rock for years.

Some have cited Tortoise as being one of the prime forces behind the development and popularity of the so-called "post-rock" movement. ^[1][2] Others, however, have criticized Tortoise's music as being derivative of progressive rock^[1].

Other groups related to Tortoise include The Sea and Cake, Brokeback, Shrimp Boat, Slint, Isotope 217, and the Chicago Underground Duo. Tortoise records on the Thrill Jockey label.

The group's origins lie in the late 1980's pairing of Doug McCombs and John Herndon, who imagined themselves as a freelance rhythm section (like reggae legends Sly and Robbie). That idea never saw fruition, but their interest in grooving rhythms and recording studio trickery led to partnerships with drummer John McEntire and bassist Bundy K. Brown (both formerly of Bastro) joining, followed by Dan Bitney. Though songs are credited to all the musicians, McEntire quickly became perceived as, if not the acknowledged leader, then the group's guiding force. In reality his extra contributions mainly took the form of being the recording engineer and mixer.

Their first single was issued in 1993, and their self-titled debut album followed a year later. Instrumental and mostly mid-tempo, Tortoise slowly garnered praise and attention, due in part to the unusual instrumentation (two bass guitars, three percussionists switching between drums, vibraphones and marimbas). A remix album followed, Rhythms, Resolutions and Clusters.

Cover of Tortoise's 1998 album TNT

Brown left and was replaced by David Pajo (formerly of Slint, who offered Tortoise's first recorded guitar) for 1996's Millions Now Living Will Never Die, a breakthrough, both in quality and attention. The album blended many genres, yet never seems like a pastiche. Millions showed up on many year-end best of lists, and the 20 minute Djed was described by critic John Bush as proof that "Tortoise made experimental rock do double duty as evocative, beautiful music."

In 1998, Tortoise released TNT, arguably their most jazz-inflected album. Pajo had been replaced by Jeff Parker, who has a strong jazz background. 2001 led to Standards, where Tortoise incorporated more electronic sounds and post-production into its music than in previous works. 2004 saw the release of It's All Around You, and in 2006 they collaborated with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on an album of covers entitled The Brave and the Bold, and released A Lazarus Taxon, a box set containing two CDs of single tracks and remixes, a third CD with an expanded Rhythms, Resolutions and Clusters (long out of print), and a DVD of videos and film of live performances.

Recently, Bitney and McEntire contributed to the Bright Eyes album, Cassadaga.

• Tortoise (1994)
• Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters (1995) – remix album
• Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996)
• TNT (1998)
• In the Fishtank (1999) – EP, collaboration with The Ex
• Standards (2001)
• It's All Around You (2004)
• The Brave and the Bold (2006) – covers album, collaboration with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
• A Lazarus Taxon (2006) – compilation box-set of rare material, 3 CDs and 1 DVD

1. ^ ^{a b} Allen, Jim. From Tull To Tortoise: Post-Rock's Proggy Past. CMJ.
2. ^ Hutlock, Todd (2006-09-01). Review of Tortoise's A Lazarus Taxon. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.

• Official site
• Tortoise biography by Piero Scaruffi