Written largely in the studio, It’s All Around You was crafted over the course of a full year, and allowed Tortoise the use of John McEntire’s Soma Electronic Music Studios (whose clients have included Wilco, Stereolab among others) in serving not just as a state-of-the-art recording facility, but as a compositional tool as well. It took months of continuous writing, recording, tinkering, mixing, and perfecting to bring It’s All Around You to it’s finalized state. Tortoise are one of the only bands of their size and status who have always produced their own records, and it’s largely because of this that they are able to achieve and maintain such a distinct and precise sound. The band’s extensive knowledge of the studio’s equipment and their ability to feel at home without a restrictive deadline allowed them to explore a multitude of approaches in the composing, editing, and coloring process of their compositions. The results of this process are clear in the lush, orchestrated tones, intricate melodies, and densely elaborate rhythms These songs build deliberately and consistently, amassing music of great detail; exploring their layers is both exciting and infinitely rewarding.