From their recording debut in 1968 to the present day, Jethro Tull have established themselves as one of the world’s leading Rock bands. With their unmistakable sound combining progressive Rock, Folk Rock and Hard Rock and their charismatic frontman Ian Anderson who has shaped their character from formation to the present day. The new album “Curious Ruminant” is scheduled for release on March 07, 2025 via InsideOut Music and contains 9 tracks including an epic suite of almost 17 minutes in length. The album opens with “Puppet and the Puppet Master,” which immediately plunges us into the album’s atmosphere with the flute featured prominently in the melodies. Ian‘s warm and expressive vocals with his entrance immediately trigger the magic and take us back in time but with a fresh and modern touch. A track developed in a musical crescendo that incorporates the band’s classic elements in the second half, alternating between intense vocal parts and instrumental sections. The title track “Curious Ruminant,” which we enjoyed as the first single taken from the album, is an engaging interweaving of heavy guitar riffs and flute melodies. The rhythm section is solid and elaborate and the keyboards take the sound into Progressive Rock territory, through refined textures that take us back to the golden age of the genre. “Dunsinane Hill” opens with a Folk theme intertwining accordion and flute, and Ian’s warm, expressive vocals passionately interpreting the lyrics. The intensity increases as the song progresses and the central theme evolves, in a musical crescendo that recalls classical sounds and brings them into a fresh, modern context. Another track extracted as a single “The Tipu House” is an engaging, rhythmic blend of Rock and Folk with melodic refrains that stick in the mind. A short, direct and immediate track with positive melodies. We are halfway through the album with “Savannah of Paddington Green” a pleasant Folk Rock ballad, with references to traditional British sounds. The warm and expressive vocals address a very sensitive and important topic such as climate change, with Ian’s usual delicacy and refined songwriting. “Stygian Hand” is a track that continues to explore Folk Rock sounds, combining the band’s past and present. The track builds to a crescendo that makes us experience those feelings of dread as when in a dark alley one feels hunted or followed, or makes the artist reflect that if it were something supernatural? Ian here proves himself to be an excellent songwriter as well as a fine performer and the band is in great form both compositionally and performance-wise. The band makes a reflection on the Israeli-Palestinian issue in “Over Jerusalem,” as we know the band has visited both the city and the country to perform. The band’s classic sounds come alive in this intense piece, with fine instrumental textures between Folk and Progressive and a fine guitar solo in the middle section. The vocals return for the last intense verses and the track ends, leaving us with some excellent food for thought as well. The epic track “Drink from the Same Well” comes from an idea Ian worked hard on over 20 years ago. At last this absolute masterpiece today can finally shine in all its beauty thanks to the fine work in composition and writing. The different types of flute played by Ian intertwine with the keyboards giving rise to a long instrumental section that then leaves room for the first vocal parts. Predominantly instrumental and with the different types of flutes played by Ian always taking center stage, it is surely one of the finest compositions to have been released in recent years. The long duration is exploited in its entirety keeping the intensity very high from beginning to end, a track to listen to and replay many times. The album ends with the shorter track “Interim Sleep,” whose lyrics were written by Ian as a song of comfort for the bereaved. Interpreted with pathos these verses conclude this enjoyable listen. A band that continues to put out music of the absolute highest level, this album also confirms that. Refined compositions, a compact tracklist, keeping the intensity always very high from beginning to end. Both music and lyrics enhance songwriting and compositional and execuitve technique of the band and Ian. An absolutely recommended listen that meets all eve expectations and in my humble opinion the best discoghraphic release of the band in recent years.
Tracklist
01. Puppet and the Puppet Master (4:04)
02. Curious Ruminant (6:00)
03. Dunsinane Hill (4:17)
04. The Tipu House (3:31)
05. Savannah of Paddington Green (3:13)
06. Stygian Hand (4:16)
07. Over Jerusalem (5:55)
08. Drink from the Same Well (16:42)
09. Interim Sleep (2:33)
Lineup
Ian Anderson / Flutes, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Tenor Guitar, Mandolin, Odds and Sods, Bits and Bobs
David Goodier / Bass Guitar
John O’Hara / Piano, Keyboards, Accordion
Scott Hammond / Drums
Jack Clark / Electric Guitar
The album also features:
James Duncan / Drums, Cajón, Percussion
Andrew Giddings / Piano, Keyboards, Accordion
