Tuatara

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
 
Tuatara is one of the more surprising and slightly ridiculous supergroups in rock history. Comprised of Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Justin Harwood (Luna), Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), and Skerik (Critters Buggin'), the quartet formed in 1996 to pursue music that their guitar-based alternative rock groups could not do -- namely, worldbeat, lounge-pop, and free jazz. After playing several concerts on the West Coast of the U.S. in the fall of 1996, Tuatara recorded their debut album, Breaking the Ethers, which was released in April 1997. Trading with the Enemy followed in 1998, and several songs from the album found their way into movie soundtracks. It would be four years until more recorded output from the band saw the light of day, but in spring 2002 the Cinemathique album found release on Fast Horse Records. More oriented toward lush and ethereal tones, the record was followed by a small U.S. tour. Two more albums on Fast Horse were issued, 2003's Loading Program and 2007's East of the Sun.