Simply put, Tortoise has spent nearly 25 years making music that defies description. While the Chicago-based instrumental quintet has nodded to dub, rock, jazz, electronica and minimalism throughout its revered and influential seven-album discography, the resulting sounds have always been distinctly, even stubbornly, their own. Originally issued on Thrill Jockey in 1994, Tortoise's self-titled debut incorporates many musical styles and influences and combines them into one very distinct sound. So distinct that sometime after the release of this record they became recognized as the leaders of a new musical movement. Tortoise exploits the recording studio, in that they utilize the recording process as a compositional tool or "sixth member," thus creating a boundless parameter in which to create music. Recorded at Idful Studios by John McEntire.