Tortuganónima - Imago

-New Album Review & Stream-

Chile's Tortuganónima return with a new full length album entitled "Imago."

With Tortuganónima's math rock reputation in mind, opening the record in 4:4 gives the listener a prolonged anticipation for what these Chilean madmen will attempt to pull off soon thereafter.

The first track "Ukio" is a cheerful illustration of musical exuberance. Moving forward with a strong emphasis on the snare drum, the drummer’s repeating odd-meter ostinato on woodblock gives the track a rich percussive texture and emotion. Having the introduction riff displace itself every bar in the background is a clever display of subtle musicality. Being a rather empty pattern in contrast to the rest of the rhythmic voicing, it's not intrusive or even able to be heard unless you're truly paying attention. A new riff follows, dictated more by the presence of guitars than the underlining rhythmic cycles.

Meshing Vasudeva, Marmalade Butcher and indie intonation, the guitar runs are all over the place - from tranquil garden spaces to entropic solar flares.

"Espardos Dorados" is reminiscent of the track "Dust-Busters" by Delta Sleep, acting as a continuation of decorated 4/4 with over-riding figures. The track is solid, appropriate - and the guitar licks are clearer and more easy to catch/dance with.

"Aleph" brings a more Japanese post-rock production and vibe. Sound sculpting is the centerfold, encased by the strong, angular percussive punching. One can think of bands like Polymath, The Physics House Band and Toe, only with a zankyo records attitude and poise. Liquid drum and bass meets math, anyone?

"Cortes de papel" showcases fluttering drum fills, cruise-control swagger, before letting go into opaque tonal ecstasies a la Arto Lindsay. It's a track that best explains itself.

"Tlön" is where the record widens while simultaneously finding focus. It's where the band comes together to birth novelty within themselves. Taking an orthogonal flight into Jojo Mayer drum and bass variables with a much tighter pocketed drum approach, the song is animated and speaks volumes without uttering a single word. Almost akin to drum solo music accompanied by a post-rock band, the sophistry and character development is real as fuck.

"Upopiario," like most revolutionaries, is but a distorted sycophantic jungle of danger and dislocation-ism. Great drum fills though.

"Magnolias" takes a slow-core approach to marathon math rock. Fluid yet oddly jagged, the song picks up pace and a regular level enthusiasm. Funky and fresh while bringing back previous rhythmic themes, the record starts to feel cohesive and characterized. The jazzy synthesis ballad core really makes for one bizarrely unique piece of music.

The title track "Imago" finds itself opening in between indie snare heavy drums and Jojo Mayer precise modernity. A pinkish flavor flares the track forward as if it were jet fuel propellant. These flavors intermingle in a darkly inhabited atmosphere. Suddenly authentic Latin rhythms take over with a fusion horn solo. The crowning part of the record, Tortuganónima saved the best for last. -PCssDP