“It’s refreshing to hear a contemporary act of this caliber that doesn’t adhere to a single genre but, instead, creates its own.” – Keyboard Magazine

“Fans of earlier New York City bands such as Screaming Headless Torsos, Gutbucket, and John Zorn’s Naked City will not be disappointed.” – PopMatters
New York, NY (November 14, 2018) — TAUK release “Let It Ride” a new video from their album  Shapeshifter II: Outbreak today, from Director Dugan Warmoth, a follow up to “Recreational Outrage” which debuted with the album on September 28th.
 

Musically and visually, “Let It Ride” heads deeper down the wormhole of “Blade Runner”,“Tron” and “ Ex-Machina”. The video’s futuristic imagery takes viewers on a dystopian trip, and shows the continuing evolution of the ‘Shapeshifter‘ virus that began in TAUK’s live action “Checkmate” video, continued onward through the animated “Recreational Outrage” video through to it’s culmination in “Let It Ride”.

Shapeshifter II: Outbreak embeds a sci-fi narrative into TAUK’s most adventurous, emotionally expansive work to date. As the video’s are threaded together, the album is a continuation of their early-2018 EP, Shapeshifter I: Construct.  The new album picks up where its predecessor’s narrative thread left off, and broadens the band’s sonic palette to include a vast spectrum of synth sounds and programmed effects.

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.

TAUK’s Outbreak Tour has taken them around the country, and wraps up this Saturday in Buffalo, NY.  The year will close with 4 shows to celebrate the New Year, and the band will return in late January for a new tour also entitled “Let It Ride” (all dates below).

TAUK Tour Dates

Nov 14 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi &
Nov 15 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall &
Nov 16 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom &
Nov 17 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works &

Dec 21 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place (supporting Kung Fu)
Dec 28 – Albany, NY – Jupiter Hall at Lucky Strike (supporting The Motet)
Dec 29 – Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle (supporting Umphrey’s McGee) **Late Night “TAUKing McGee” Afterparty is **SOLD OUT**
Dec 30 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry*
Dec 31 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage*
Jan 15-Jan 21 – Jam Cruise 17 – Port of Miami, FL
Jan 31 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music
Feb 01 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Feb 02 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
Feb 05 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern^
Feb 06 – Newport News, VA – Boathouse Live^
Feb 07 – Raleigh, NC –  Lincoln Theatre^
Feb 08 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre^

Feb 09 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station^

& w/ Exmag
* w/ The Fritz

^ w/ People’s Blues of Richmond

Shapeshifter II: Outbreak Track Listing
1. Prelude
2. Recreational Outrage
3. CMF 9000
4. Checkmate
5. Convoy
6. Not Your Nemesis
7. Let It Ride
8. Ratchet
9. Pioneer
10. Pitter Pattern
11. Upside Down