I praised Tortoise's groundbreaking early work a while back, but have been fairly dismissive of their last few efforts. True, they've spent the last decade and a half basically refining their aesthetic and running in place. But sometimes you have to stand back and appreciate that refinement. Which is what happened when I gave a listen to It's All Around You recently.
It's probably a case of ears suddenly becoming more attuned to subtlety, not looking to be surprised, but happy to find pretty things in small places. Suddenly, I like the shift toward melody, away from stone-faced austerity, being less stingy with color. Now I want to see the imaginary movie they're soundtracking. Of course, it helps that the vibes are still around. Without those, these guys would be truly lost.
Tortoise - Stretch (You Are All Right)
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