Chicago’s own jazz n’ funky jambase group Tortoise has arranged for an extremely busy summer this year. Over the last few months, they’ve been dutifully working on their latest opus, Beacons of Ancestorship— their first record in over five years! And now with its release approaching on June 22/23 (depending on which country you reside) it’s time for these blokes to hit the road!
Of course, the new international tour is just a small taste of what these fellas have been dishing out recently. In promotion of the highly anticipated Beacons of Ancestorship Tortoise not only offered up the album’s first single “Prepare Your Coffin”, but released with it a brand new accompanying video as well. The rather austere black and white video follows a young man on an architectural journey presumably around the city of Chicago, IL. Focusing mostly on abstract ceilings and floor space, the video relies heavily on its use of angles, shadows and obscure close-ups. It’s truly a visionary accompaniment to the instrumental and heavily guitar ridden track, “Prepare Your Coffin” and if the rest of Beacons of Ancestorship follows in its footsteps we should anticipate an intense thrill-ride of jazzy, psychedelic and highly experimental rock music.
Currently the new track is available for a free download below, but hurry, we’re not sure how long this promotion will last. Also, check out the new video below and keep in mind that Tortoise expects to drop an even longer list of US dates for later this year!
Check Out:
“Prepare Your Coffin”
Tortoise 2009 Tour Dates:
05/29 – Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
05/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House
05/31 – New York, NY @ World Financial Center Winter
06/11 – Athens, Greece @ Synch Festival
07/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
07/13 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
07/15 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
07/17 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/19 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
07/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
07/24 – Tokyo, Japan @ Fuji Rock Festival
08/14 – St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock
08/22 – Hasselt, BE @ Pukkelpop