Isotope 217, one of Rob Mazurek's numerous Chicago jazz side projects, finds itself in a precarious position somewhere between post-rock and jazz. Isotope grew out of weekly jam sessions around the Chicago area and are put on record for the first time. Recruiting members of Tortoise (Dan Bitney, John Herndon, and Jeff Parker) for this effort, there is a pronounced lo-fi vibe, which is counteracted by Mazurek's jazz ambition. The end result is an album that is neither ...   [ read more ]

CD $13.28

"Who Stole The I Walkman?" is the culmination of Isotope 217's last year of performing and rehearsing, and it offers their unusually familiar blend of collective improvisation, songwriting, and electronic manipulation. "Who Stole The I Walkman?" is the most accurate representation to date of the balance Isotope 217 seeks to achieve between live performance and the recording process. That is, some songs such as "The Harmolodge" or "Sint_D" are well-crafted compositions, while others, such as "Input" are liv...   [ read more ]

CD $15.99

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Isotope 217's second album Utonian Automatic contains more angular, extended fusion experiments like the jagged, noisy opener "Luh" and the quietly skewed "Rest for the Wicked." The group's percussive elements come to the fore on "Looking After Life on Mars," while "New Beyond"'s moody, murky keyboards settle the song into an uneasy lull. Over the course of Utonian Automatic's seven tracks, Isotope 217 expand their experimental style, making it even more diverse and challenging. ...   [ read more ]

CD $15.18