TAUK - Shapeshifter I: Construct (EP) (2018)

On their upcoming EP Shapeshifter I: Construct, TAUK tap into their singular chemistry to elevate and expand their all-instrumental blend of funk, hip-hop, progressive rock, and jazz. Revealing both their refined musicality and unbridled creativity, the Oyster Bay, New York-bred rock-fusion four-piece (guitarist Matt Jalbert, bassist Charlie Dolan, keyboardist Alric “A.C.” Carter, and drummer Isaac Teel) push into new sonic terrain and build entire worlds within each richly textured soundscape.

From the complex twisting of “For Laughing Out Loud” and soaring riffs of “Malware” to the urgent rhythms of “Stranger Danger” and sprawling melodies of “Premises,” Shapeshifter I: Construct finds TAUK introducing a rhythmically adventurous element to their craft. And while the compositions are meticulously focused, TAUK also deliver the dynamic tension-and-release jams that have helped earn them a devoted following while drawing critical acclaim (the Washington Post, for one, praised TAUK for “creating a hard-charging, often melodic fusion that—thanks to a penchant for improv—offers limitless possibilities”).

Throughout Shapeshifter I: Construct—the first chapter in a follow-up to their 2016 album Sir Nebula—TAUK employ a guided approach to steer their music into bold new directions. The band has sharpened their songwriting to craft more intricately layered arrangements and powerfully intense grooves. As with their past releases, TAUK created Shapeshifter I in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer/mixer/engineer Robert Carranza (The Mars Volta, Ozomatli, Jack Johnson, Taj Mahal). But in a departure from their previous work, the band made the new EP and upcoming full length album in one concentrated period in one location rather than moving between studios. The group brought their gear into an old house, creating a unique recording situation with a special atmosphere. Holing up in the makeshift studio, often pulling 12-hour workdays, TAUK ultimately found the revamped recording process hugely beneficial. “Everything just happened so naturally this time around,” says Jalbert. “I can’t think of one moment where it felt like anything was forced. We were all just completely focused and in the same mindset, which made this an incredibly fun and smooth experience.”

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 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.”

Since their formation, TAUK have shared stages with an impressive list of bands (including Umphrey’s McGee, Widespread Panic, Lettuce, and Robert Randolph) in addition to appearing at festivals like Electric Forest, Bonnaroo, and The Allman Brothers’ Peach Music Festival. That rigorous touring schedule has gone a long way in strengthening their chemistry, according to Carter. “We’re doing over 100 shows a year and we pretty much live with each other, so there’s a healthy respect and trust and love happening there,” he says. “We all have a common goal and an understanding that this is something we’re compelled to do, and that’s definitely brought us close together.” It’s also helped TAUK develop a reputation as a masterful live act: “TAUK is unstoppable,” raved Live for Live Music. “If you haven’t see them, dear God, go.”

Preparing to hit the road again for a spring tour (with upcoming dates including a two-night stint at the Brooklyn Bowl and spots on the Boston Calling Music Festival and Sweetwater 420 Fest and EP Release shows in Ft Collins and Denver on 4/6 and 4/7), TAUK is focused on instilling their live show with the same kinetic energy and boundless passion that powered the making of Shapeshifter I. “Growing up together as musicians and collectively going on this journey—that’s what makes this experience really special,” says Jalbert of TAUK’s continued evolution. “It’s like everything we’ve learned over the years has been funneled into this band, and now it’s taking shape in a really exciting way. We all love what we’re doing, and the band just feels like home.”

Track List:
1. Square 2. 3:51
2. Premises. 6:07
3. For Laughing Out Loud. 5:32
4. Stranger Danger. 4:32
5. Malware. 7:48

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