Re: Isotope 217
Scott Tennent
Wed, 07 Jan 1998 00:37:18 -0700 (MST)
Isotope 217 is John Herndon (the OTHER drummer in Tortoise besides john
mcentire, who gets most the praise these days, Dan Bitney (one of the
bass players in Tortoise), Jeff Parker (the newest Tortoise member who
has yet to appear on any of their material) on trumpet I believe, as well
as Sara P. Smith, Maat lux, and Rob Mazurek, all of whom I believe are
members of a highly respected jazz ensemble in chicago (though the name
escapes me at the moment).
The album is produced by Bundy K. Brown (who put out a 12" earlier this
year under the name Directions, called "echoes", which also featured
Herndon on drums and Parker's trumpet, and I highly recommend) and is
also produced by Casey Rice (who has a 12" under the name Designer which
is very abstract stuff).
The album is great! Definetly worth picking up if you're into that
Bitches Brew/Head Hunters style jazz. This is closer to straight acid
jazz than it is to Tortoise.
This album is getting my vote for most underrated album of the year.
However its only underrated in the jazz/acid jazz circles (its very
overrated in the indie rock circles...but thats a complaint that I wont
go into unless any of you care for me to clarify).
Anyway, let me just say Isotope 217 throw a very 90's spin on the whole
funk-jazz style without simply making jazz you can dance to (thats not
the motive here at all). THere are some very interesting post-production
techniques which after all is said and done might as well make brown and
rice full fledged members of the band.
this is getting long winded, sorry. but PICK THIS ALBUM UP!!!!
(and if you live in chicago I believe they have a weekly gig somewhere in
town)
scott
ps. don't sleep on that Directions 12"!!!! And keep your eyes out for the
new Tortoise album, TNT, hitting stores in march. these guys are amazing!!!!
On Tue, 6 Jan 1998, Mark Turner wrote:
>
> > Does anyone know about an outfit called Isotope 217? I heard one of their
> > trax - a funky break w nice trumpet that morphed into a funky synth
> > outro....any ideas?
>
> It seems to be a Tortoise side-project. Their album, THE UNSTABLE
> MOLECULE, is out now on Thrill Jockey, and has been getting good
> reviews in the UK press.
>
> --
> Mark Turner
> mturner@netcom.com
>