Six Tortoise albums are being reissued on vinyl as part of Thrill Jockey’s 20th anniversary plans [via The Wire].

The full-length output of the revered Chicago group, who have to count as one of the most influential to emerge in the 1990s, is long overdue a new lease of life on vinyl. The titles being reissued are their debut self-titled LP of 1994, a stunning work of strung-out avant-Americana and probably the record in their catalogue most deserving of the dreaded “post-rock” tag, 1996’s more electronic Millions Now Living Will Never Die (arguably their masterpiece), the severely underrated, Reichian marimba orgy that is TNT, plus Standards (2001), It’s All Around You (2004) and their most recent studio offering, Beacons Of Ancestorship (2009).

The first two albums are an essential part of any self-respecting record collection, so the news that they’re being reissued in limited vinyl editions (with free digital download codes) is music to our ears, and should be to yours too. Similar 20th anniversary reissues are planned for albums by The Sea and Cake, Trans Am, White Hills, Freakwater, V3, The Fiery Furnaces, Fennesz/Daniel/Buck, Daniel Higgs and Directions In Music. No release dates have been set – keep an eye on Thrill Jockey’s site for more info and updates.