BEACONS OF ANCESTORSHIP

Beacons of Ancestorship is the sixth Tortoise album, right after the negatively received It's All Around You. There's really a lot going on here, new sounds and areas being explored, which is to be expected from Tortoise. As always, Tortoise is changing and morphing, and Beacons does sound very different from earlier works like TNT at times- Prepare Your Coffin and Northern Something don't sound all that much like earlier Tortoise, abandoning most of their subtlety and instead make two good but not great experimental rock tracks. High Class Slim contains what is probably their best use of synthesizers, as it is the focus of the song, and has Tortoise's signature drumming style behind it. Penumbra is the other synth-led song, short but nice. Gigantes and Seven Diamonds sound much like TNT, focusing on the interplay between guitar and percussion to form atmospheric and evocative soundscapes. Yinxiang really does not sound like Tortoise at all, using a distorted, muddy bass riff, background drums, and supplementary guitar work, then ends in ambience; despite being atypical (not a bad thing at all), it's a really good song. Minors sounds a lot like the material from Standards, with jazzy influences and electronic instruments. Monument is a bit of a low point, as the electronic beats aren't nearly as effective as they were on Seneca, but it's still an alright song. And finally, De Chelly is a good downbeat closer, though it's a shame it couldn't have been longer. So, Beacons is a worthwhile album, but somewhat overshadowed by their earier masterpieces. On the border between three and four stars, but I'll go down for previously stated reasons.