A Lazarus Taxon
Encyclopedia
__notoc__
A Lazarus Taxon is the name of a box set
by Chicago
post-rock
group Tortoise
, released in 2006
on the Thrill Jockey
label
.
The set contains three CDs
, one DVD
and an accompanying 20-page booklet. The CDs contain 33 tracks of rare material from tour, compilation and non-American
releases, the band's out of print
1995 album Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters
, which compiled remix
es by friends of the band including Steve Albini
, Rick Brown, Jim O'Rourke
and Brad Wood
, and other previously unreleased material including a restored remix by the Minutemen
's Mike Watt
that was delivered too late for inclusion on Rhythms... and subsequently fell victim to a malfunctioning DAT
machine. Tortoise bassist Bundy K Brown himself restored the tape, twelve years after it was recorded. The DVD contains most of the band's music videos as well as over two hours of "extensive and rare" live performance footage. The set was compiled by the band themselves.
The set's title is derived from the palaeontological
term "lazarus taxon
", meaning a taxon
(or grouping of organism
s) that disappears from the fossil record
only to reappear again at a later point, which in turn refers back to the resurrection of Lazarus
by Jesus
in the New Testament
.
The photography used in the artwork was personally selected by the band from the work of retired Swiss
police
officer Arnold Odermatt
, who became noted for his pictures of accident scenes and police training, often returning to accident scenes he had photographed to shoot them again once they were free of people. Tortoise were given permission to use the pictures from Odermatt himself, and from Berlin
's Springer & Winckler Galerie, which first unearthed and promoted the artist's work.
(1995)
A Lazarus Taxon is the name of a box set
Boxed set
A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...
by Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
group Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
, released in 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
on the Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey Records is an American independent record label established in 1992 in New York City by former Atlantic Records A&R representative Bettina Richards.-History:...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
The set contains three CDs
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, one DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and an accompanying 20-page booklet. The CDs contain 33 tracks of rare material from tour, compilation and non-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
releases, the band's out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
1995 album Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters
Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters
Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters is a remix album by the Chicago-based band Tortoise, which is currently out of print. It consists entirely of remixed versions of songs from their first album...
, which compiled remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es by friends of the band including Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, Rick Brown, Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
and Brad Wood
Brad Wood
Brad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...
, and other previously unreleased material including a restored remix by the Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
's Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
that was delivered too late for inclusion on Rhythms... and subsequently fell victim to a malfunctioning DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
machine. Tortoise bassist Bundy K Brown himself restored the tape, twelve years after it was recorded. The DVD contains most of the band's music videos as well as over two hours of "extensive and rare" live performance footage. The set was compiled by the band themselves.
The set's title is derived from the palaeontological
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
term "lazarus taxon
Lazarus taxon
In paleontology, a Lazarus taxon is a taxon that disappears from one or more periods of the fossil record, only to appear again later. The term refers to the account in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead...
", meaning a taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
(or grouping of organism
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s) that disappears from the fossil record
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
only to reappear again at a later point, which in turn refers back to the resurrection of Lazarus
Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus or Lazarus of the Four Days, is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death...
by Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
.
The photography used in the artwork was personally selected by the band from the work of retired Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer Arnold Odermatt
Arnold Odermatt
Arnold Odermatt is a celebrated Swiss police photographer whose work spanned more than 40 years. Originally trained as a baker, he was a photographer for the Nidwalden district police from 1948 until his retirement in 1990...
, who became noted for his pictures of accident scenes and police training, often returning to accident scenes he had photographed to shoot them again once they were free of people. Tortoise were given permission to use the pictures from Odermatt himself, and from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's Springer & Winckler Galerie, which first unearthed and promoted the artist's work.
Disc one
- "Gamera" – 11:53
- "The Source of Uncertainty" – 3:42
- "Blackbird" – 5:01
- "Sexual For Elizabeth" (S. Annen/D. Bitney/J. Herndon/P. JohnsonFive DeezFive Deez is an American hip hop group from Cincinnati, Ohio and a part of the Wanna Battle collective, which also includes DJ Hi-Tek, Talib Kweli, Rubix, and Lone Catalysts. The group consists of members: Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician , Pase Rock , Kyle David , and Sonic...
/J. MarshallFat JonFat Jon the Ample Soul Physician is an American hip hop producer from Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the four members of Five Deez, alongside Pace Rock, Sonic, and Kyle David...
/D. McCombs/J. McEntireJohn McEntireJohn McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
/J. Parker/Shing02Shing02Shingo Annen , better known by his stage name Shing02, is a Japanese rap artist and producer. Due in part to growing up in Western cities, Shing02 stands as one of the few multilingual rappers from Japan able to compose songs entirely in either Japanese or English...
) – 4:49 - "To Day Retrieval" – 3:58
- Remix of "Ten-Day Interval" by AutechreAutechreAutechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
- Remix of "Ten-Day Interval" by Autechre
- "Whitewater" – 5:07
- "Didjeridoo" (D. EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
) – 4:33- Originally performed by Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
- Originally performed by Duke Ellington
- "Autumn Sweater" (G. HubleyGeorgia HubleyGeorgia Hubley is an American percussionist and is one of the founding members of the alternative-rock band Yo La Tengo.She is married to the group's other founding member, Ira Kaplan. They would often see each other in record shops and at the same shows...
/I. KaplanIra KaplanIra Kaplan [born 1957] is the co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo. He is married to Georgia Hubley, Yo La Tengo's vocalist, drummer, songwriter and co-founder....
/J. McNewJames McNewJames McNew has been the bass player for the rock band Yo La Tengo since their 1992 album May I Sing With Me.He was previously a member of Christmas on their third album Vortex.[]He also has a solo side project, Dump....
) – 7:07- Originally performed by Yo La TengoYo La TengoYo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
- Originally performed by Yo La Tengo
- "Wait" (J. Parker) – 4:27
- "A Grape Dope" – 4:12
- "Restless Waters" – 3:41
- "Vaus" – 5:01
- "Blue Station" – 5:34
Disc two
- "Madison Area" – 3:27
- "TNT" – 10:03
- Remixed by Nobukazu TakemuraNobukazu TakemuraNobukazu Takemura is a Japanese musician whose style has run from jazz to house to drum and bass to chamber music to electronic glitch within less than a decade. Born in Hirakata, Osaka in August 1968, he became interested in punk and New Wave music when young...
- Remixed by Nobukazu Takemura
- "Why We Fight" – 4:23
- "Elmerson, Lincoln, and Palmieri" – 2:39
- "Peering" – 5:11
- "Goriri" – 6:40
- "As You Said" (I. CurtisIan CurtisIan Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
/B. SumnerBernard SumnerBernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
/P. HookPeter HookPeter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
/S. Morris) – 4:21- Originally performed by Joy DivisionJoy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
- Originally performed by Joy Division
- "CTA" – 5:07
- "Deltitnu" – 5:50
- "Adverse Camber" – 6:00
- Remixed by AutechreAutechreAutechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
- Remixed by Autechre
- "Cliff Dweller Society" (D. Bitney/K. Brown/D. Fliegel/J. Herndon/D. McCombs/J. McEntire) – 15:23
- "Waihopai" – 4:13
Disc three
Tracks 1-7 previously issued as Rhythms, Resolutions & ClustersRhythms, Resolutions & Clusters
Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters is a remix album by the Chicago-based band Tortoise, which is currently out of print. It consists entirely of remixed versions of songs from their first album...
(1995)
- "Alcohall" – 4:03
- "Your New Rod" – 4:18
- "Cobwebbed" – 4:38
- "The Match Incident" – 5:31
- "Tin Can Puerto Rican Remix" – 4:24
- "Not Quite East of the Ryan" – 5:08
- "Initial Gesture Protraction" – 4:47
- "Cornpone Brunch WattMike WattMichael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
Remix" – 4:18- Remixed by Mike WattMike WattMichael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
- Remixed by Mike Watt
Disc four (DVD)
- "Salt The Skies" (video)
- "Dear Grandma And Grandpa" (video)
- "Glass Museum" (video)
- "Seneca" (video)
- "Four Day Interval" (video)
- "The Suspension Bridge at Iguazú Falls" (video)
- "Monica" (video)
- Live at Primavera Sound, 2005
- "Gamera"/"Glass Museum"/"Reservoir"/"DjedDjedThe djed symbol is a pillar-like ancient Egyptian symbol representing stability. It has been interpreted as the backbone of the Egyptian god Osiris, especially in the form Banebdjedet . Djedu is the Egyptian name for Busiris, a centre of the cult of Osiris...
"/"The Equator"/"Vaus"/"Cornpone Brunch"- Live in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, 1996
- Live in Toronto
- "Ten Day Interval"/"Othello"
- Live at Deutsches Jazz Festival, 1999
- "Seneca"
- Live on "Chic-a-Go-GoChic-a-Go-GoChic-a-Go-Go is a Public-access television cable TV children's dance show that airs on Chicago Access Network Television . The show bills itself as "Chicago's Dance Show for Kids of All Ages".-Show description:...
", 2005
- Live on "Chic-a-Go-Go
- "Salt The Skies"
- Live for "Burn to Shine"Burn to Shine (DVD series)Burn to Shine is an ongoing series of music DVDs created by Trixie DVD, a collaboration between filmmaker Christoph Green and ex-Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. The filmmakers select a house that is set to be demolished in a certain city and ask a member of a local band to curate the event...
, 2004
- Live for "Burn to Shine"
Performance
- Dan Bitney
- Bundy K. BrownBundy K. BrownBundy K. Brown is an American musician and recording engineer. He is best known for being a founding member of Tortoise and his production, engineering and remixes in the Chicago Post Rock scene....
- John Herndon
- Doug McCombsDoug McCombsDouglas McCombs plays bass and guitar with the instrumental rock band Tortoise and leads the instrumental band Brokeback. He is also the longtime bassist for the rock band Eleventh Dream Day.-References:...
- John McEntireJohn McEntireJohn McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
- David PajoDavid PajoDavid Pajo is an American alternative rock musician. He has played a wide variety of music, loosely fitting into several other genres: hardcore, math-rock, post-rock, electronica, folk and indie-pop...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jeff ParkerJeff Parker (musician)Jeff Parker is an American jazz and rock guitarist based in Chicago. Parker is best known as an experimental musician, working with avant-garde electronic, rock, and improvisational groups....
- Kira RoesslerKira RoesslerKira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Shing02Shing02Shingo Annen , better known by his stage name Shing02, is a Japanese rap artist and producer. Due in part to growing up in Western cities, Shing02 stands as one of the few multilingual rappers from Japan able to compose songs entirely in either Japanese or English...
– rappingRappingRapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Production
- Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
– productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Sean BoothAutechreAutechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
– remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ing - Rick Brown – remixing
- Rob BrownAutechreAutechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
– remixing - Brendan CantyBrendan CantyBrendan Canty is an American musician, composer, producer and film maker, best known as the drummer for the band Fugazi....
– remixing - Dan Fliegel – composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
- Lenny Golzalez – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Baldomero Gordillo – liner notesLiner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
- Christopher Green – direction
- Georgia HubleyGeorgia HubleyGeorgia Hubley is an American percussionist and is one of the founding members of the alternative-rock band Yo La Tengo.She is married to the group's other founding member, Ira Kaplan. They would often see each other in record shops and at the same shows...
– composer - Fat JonFat JonFat Jon the Ample Soul Physician is an American hip hop producer from Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the four members of Five Deez, alongside Pace Rock, Sonic, and Kyle David...
– composer, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of... - Ira KaplanIra KaplanIra Kaplan [born 1957] is the co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the American indie rock band Yo La Tengo. He is married to Georgia Hubley, Yo La Tengo's vocalist, drummer, songwriter and co-founder....
– composer - Alan LichtAlan LichtAlan Licht is an American guitarist and composer, whose work combines elements of pop, noise, free jazz and minimalism. He is also a writer and journalist.-Biography:Licht was born in New Jersey in 1968...
– liner notes
- James McNewJames McNewJames McNew has been the bass player for the rock band Yo La Tengo since their 1992 album May I Sing With Me.He was previously a member of Christmas on their third album Vortex.[]He also has a solo side project, Dump....
– composer - Arnold OdermattArnold OdermattArnold Odermatt is a celebrated Swiss police photographer whose work spanned more than 40 years. Originally trained as a baker, he was a photographer for the Nidwalden district police from 1948 until his retirement in 1990...
– cover artCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
, photography, sleeve photo - Jim O'RourkeJim O'Rourke (musician)Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
– remixing - Pace RockFive DeezFive Deez is an American hip hop group from Cincinnati, Ohio and a part of the Wanna Battle collective, which also includes DJ Hi-Tek, Talib Kweli, Rubix, and Lone Catalysts. The group consists of members: Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician , Pase Rock , Kyle David , and Sonic...
– composer, lyrics - Andrew Paynter – photography
- Marty Perez – photography
- Casey Rice – remixing
- Sheila Sachs – design
- Nobukazu TakemuraNobukazu TakemuraNobukazu Takemura is a Japanese musician whose style has run from jazz to house to drum and bass to chamber music to electronic glitch within less than a decade. Born in Hirakata, Osaka in August 1968, he became interested in punk and New Wave music when young...
– remixing - Saverio Truglia – photography
- Mike WattMike WattMichael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
– remixing - Julian Weber – liner notes
- Brad WoodBrad WoodBrad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...
– remixing