In the Fishtank, Volume 5

In the Fishtank, Volume 5 is a collaborative EP recorded by the Chicago-based outfit Tortoise for the Dutch label Konkurrent. The 'In the Fishtank' series invited touring bands to spend two days in a studio to record whatever they wished, often resulting in more spontaneous and experimental works than their standard studio albums. Recorded in 1999, this volume captures Tortoise during their most influential era, shortly after the release of TNT. Unlike the meticulously edited and layered approach of their primary LPs, these sessions feel more immediate and performance-oriented. The six tracks showcase the band's signature blend of mallet percussion, dual-drummer rhythms, and dub-influenced bass. Critics, particularly at Pitchfork, noted that while it functions as a minor work in their discography, it serves as a potent distillation of their aesthetic, highlighting their ability to find groove within complex, avant-garde structures.