Review: JethroTull – Curious Ruminant
Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: InsideOut Music
Release: 2025
Text: Andy Trachsel
The title of the new album of Jethro Tull is ‘Curious Ruminant’ and hints on chewing on their long musical legacy and see what comes from it. Well I was curious and I am fully satisfied.
As high school students in the early 7-ties we were exchanging Jethro Tull records like ‘Aqualung,’ ‘Living In The Past’ and ‘Thick As A Brick’ and playing air guitar on Locomotive Breath. It was music of that time, hippie and folk music with the rock guitar of Martin Barre. But the main ingrediënts of the sound of the band was the flute and the voice of Ian Anderson. His medieval outfit reflected the music which was eclectic, folkrock in optima forma. Critics say the new album is not Jethro Tull anymore, because Ian Anderson is the only original bandmember. They don’t realize that the line-up of the band has changed a lot over the years and that Ian as last man standing has preserved the original sound, structure and arrangements with the every new album. It’s ruminant you know!
Puppet And The Puppet Master opens the album. After a piano intro of long time member Andrew Giddings the familiar sound of Jethro Tull sets in, guided by the flute of Ian. I am back in my teens! Nothing has changed in 50 years, except for the sound of the guitar and the addition of an accordion.
The title song Curious Ruminant starts again with a piano intro with a gentle acoustic guitar. Then the flute calls out to the electric guitar of newcomer Jack Clark. He has a different sound than Martin Barre, but different times produce different sounds. Ian sings ‘I count my life in seconds past’ and his son James Duncan keeps the pace on the drums. They play some folkrock in the woods and why not keep living in the past. I like it!
It is no surprise that the song Dunsinane Hill could be on their album ‘Songs From The Woods’. Brings back 1977. Listen for yourself and let me know.
Ian Anderson’s rolling flute opens The Tipu House song and I am back with my friends sitting around the recordplayer and smoking all kinds of everything. The accordion, mandolin and guitars make your body and mind flow back in time.
Savannah Of Paddington Green is a nice waltz. Ian is singing about an urban savannah. Must be a fine place to stay while playing the accordion, mandolin and acoustic guitars.
Stygian Hand reminds me of the River Dance performance I attended a couple of years ago. You imagine folkdancers in a medieval castle. You might ask yourself is it Ian Anderson or King Arthur and the knights of the round table, who are enjoying the Celtic sounds of flute and accordion.
Well the knights went on a crusade to the Holy Land. The next song Over Jerusalem tells about the everlasting religious issues in the region without the political polarisation. Ian sings: am I the hawk, am I the dove?, which says it all.
Maybe the answer for all conflicts is in the next song, Drink From The Same Well. A heartbreaking melody on the flute begs for understanding and empathy above a beautfiful keyboard layer of Andrew Giddings. Then an indigenous sounding flute suddenly begins jumping around with a staccato accordion. Has the world awaken? It could be.. The song continues with a musical tale of spiritual unity.
Interim Sleep the final song of the album start with a human heart beat and Ian Anderson reciting a poem of love and eternal life. Life goes on beyond any time boundaries just like Jethro Tull!
Tracks:
01. Puppet And The Puppet Master
02. Curious Ruminant
03. Dunsinane Hill
04. The Tipu House
05. Savannah of Paddington Green
06. Stygian Hand
07. Over Jerusalem
08. Drink From The Same Well
09. Interim Sleep
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
Website: https://jethrotull.com/