“TAUK is unstoppable, If you haven’t see them, dear God, go.”
‘Live for Live Music’ raved about the 4 piece progressive rock / live electronica group a few years back, and the words still ring true to this day. Now fresh off the release of their 5th full length album entitled ‘Shapeshifter II’ the group continues to explore futuristic themes of artificial intelligence, the blurring lines between humans and machines, and visions of a coming dystopia a la Bladerunner aesthetics set against a sonic backdrop of free flowing jazz, progressive rock, hip-hop and electronica.
In a time where the live experience is more important than ever, with groups making their entire income from touring, Tauk’s searing live chops ensure they sound just as good on the stage as they do in the studio. But such psychic cohesion doesn’t just happen overnight, this effortless gelling has taken years to fully set.
TAUK’s creative connection traces back to childhood, when longtime friends Dolan, Jalbert, and Carter formed their first band in seventh grade and held practice in their school basement. After playing together in various projects over the years, the trio brought drummer Isaac Teel into the fold in 2012, cementing the final lineup. “We gelled pretty quickly as friends and as musicians, and now there’s a connection on stage that’s unspoken,” notes Teel. “You just feel it from the energy within the band and from the response coming from the crowd—all these people in the same exact headspace.”
You can expect that same kind of cosmic connection between the musicians on stage as in the studio, making it truly a collaborative effort for their new release Shapeshifter II.
In sculpting the album’s intricate arrangements, TAUK called on such esteemed musicians as The Naughty Horns, Ghost-Note’s Nate Werth (a percussionist who’s also played with David Crosby, Q-Tip, and Snarky Puppy), and Juan Alderete (longtime bassist for Racer X and The Mars Volta). Shapeshifter II: Outbreak came to life in collaboration with TAUK’s longtime cohort Robert Carranza—a Grammy Award-winning producer/mixer/engineer also known for his work The Mars Volta, Ozomatli, and Taj Mahal.
Grab the release over on their Bandcamp
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