Tortoise
's production expertise hit an early peak with
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
, a work that not only references studio-centric forms like
dub
and
electronica
, but actively welds them to the group's aesthetic of sturdily constructed
indie rock
. The centerpiece is the 21-minute opener
"Djed,"
a multi-part track which brought
's already impressive compositional abilities to a grand scale. It's almost a history of influences in miniature, first referencing
tape music
for several minutes, then moving on to
Krautrock
with a chugging section incorporating wheezing organ and understated guitar chords. Halfway through, the band takes on minimalism with repeating figures of organ and vibes, then return to the green fields of their debut with a final few minutes of moody
(though even this is spiced with a scratchy rhythm and various noise effects). With
made
experimental rock
do double duty as evocative, beautiful music. The other songs on
Millions Now Living
are hardly afterthoughts, though; highlights
"Glass Museum"
"The Taut and Tame"
display the band quickly growing out of the angular
ghetto with exquisite music, constructed with more thought and played with more emotion, than any of their peers. ~ John Bush