Calliandra/KScope [Release date: 18.04.14]

Ian Anderson has certainly been getting around in recent times.  A Prog God in award ceremonies and of course we now know why he reserves his firmest handshakes for trusted members.  Of his inner circle that is.

And recently we have learned what we all suspected:  Jethro Tull will not exist as we used to know it.  It will be left to that band’s constituent members to perpetuate the back catalogue.

Chatting last year to Martin Barre for GRTR! it is evident that there was some chicanery going on when both he and Ian Anderson decided the Tull format in its present incarnation had run its course.  But then, unbeknown to Barre, Anderson was readying TAAB2.  Hardly transparent.

Through the annals of time, Tull has always been associated with Anderson but in truth Martin Barre has been as much a part of that band’s continuing success and durability.

Given that Ian Anderson has been struggling vocally for many years now,  the band in a sense became more important.  But, having lost the power of his voice and the loyalty of his chief lieutenant, perhaps Ian Anderson has now also lost the plot?

And with the latest album reviving the spectre of his alter-ego Gerald Bostock, one is led to that conclusion.  It’s just more of the same and, moreover, Martin Barre isn’t in the building.  TAAB2 was a novel extension.  TAAB3 is tiresome.  It’s only redeemed by an excellent instrumental, ‘Tripudium Ad Bellum’, ‘After The Wars’, and ‘New Blood, Old Veins’.  The latter track though is only 2:32.

Wrapped up in the intricate wordplay I can’t help thinking that the spectre of Ian Dury prevails during songs like ‘Enter The Uninvited’ where Anderson name checks all the “modern day evils” like Facebook and West Wing.  It made me think also:  “Gerald Bostock, I didn’t like you in 1972 and I don’t like you now.  So shut the f–k up”.

It sounds to me like old man’s music for bitter old men with Anderson cast as the thinking rock fan’s Betjeman.  Musically it’s fine, but the over-powering lyrical themes – whilst supremely crafted – are a little hackneyed.  You will need the album booklet and a strong cup of coffee…

Anderson/Tull have always made – in the main – great music that has prevailed through umpteen musical trends and they’ve even played Metallica at their own game (well sort of).

It seems now that awards and accolades notwithstanding, Anderson is settling in to boring old age.  Martin Barre has said that by mutual agreement Tull needed to be revitalised but Anderson/Bostock whilst sounding like Tull isn’t the hoped for kick-start to the process of reinvention.  ***1/2

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Gig review (2 May 2014)

UK Tour Dates

APRIL
28th Brighton Dome 01273 709 709
29th Southampton Guildhall 023 8063 2601
MAY
1st Salisbury City Hall 01722 434 434
2nd Liverpool Philharmonic 0151 709 3789
3rd Birmingham Symphony Hall 0121 345 0600
4th Oxford New Theatre 0844 871 3020
6th Bristol Colston Hall 0844 887 1500
7th High Wycombe Swan Theatre 01494 512 000
8th Guildford G Live 0844 7701 797
9th Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357 851
10th Ipswich Regent Theatre 01473 433 100
11th Leicester De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111
13th Derby Assembly Rooms 01332 255 800
14th Manchester Palace Theatre 0844 871 3019
15th York Royal Opera House 0844 871 3024
16th Newcastle Sage Theatre 0191 443 4661
18th Edinburgh Festival Theatre 0131 529 6000
19th Perth Concert Hall 01738 621 031
20th Aberdeen Music Hall 01224 632 080
21st Inverness Eden Court 01463 234 234
24th/25th London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire 0844 477 2000

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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