Ian Anderson
Divinities (Twelve Dances With God)

Ian Anderson, from the famous Jethro Tull, hadn't tried a solo album since 1983 with the good but electronic "Walk Into Light". While "Walk Into Light" had caused some classic Jethro Tull fans to frown, those who were expecting an album with flute and/or acoustic brilliance found themselves with an album of essentially electronic music, "Divinities (Twelve Dances With God)" lifted the spirits of those who were expecting a "Walk Into Light #2".

Once again, this can be considered a 100% solo work by Ian Anderson, as Martin Barre does not appear, and though it is closer to Jethro Tull's music than "Walk Into Light", the music presented here is quite distant from what was offered in the "Roots To Branches" album of the same year.
It is a classical music album in every sense: Ian indeed assembled a seven-piece orchestra, to which members of the Jethro Tull were added: Andrew Giddings (piano and keyboards) and Doane Perry (drums and percussion). Ian Anderson demonstrates (if there was ever any doubt) to be a true master of his instrument, playing smoothly and relaxing, and signs compositions far more complex than those he proposed with Jethro Tull.

The record is presented to us as a concept instrumental album inspired by 12 deities that dance in different places (e.g., "En Afrique", "At Their Father's Knee").

The premises for an excellent album are all there, so why is the rating only three stars? Well, the main flaw of this album is boredom, and the majestic and meticulously detailed arrangements that risk weighing down the pieces even further. The most glaring example is the final "In The Times Of India (Bombay Valentine)", where the beauty of the composition is weighed down by a somewhat prolix arrangement and the excessive duration of the track, which ends at eight minutes. Nevertheless, there are splendid and perfect tracks like the wonderful "In The Grip Of The Stronger Stuff" (performed live several times), the beautiful "En Afrique" and the adventurous "In The Moneylender's Temple" and "In A Black Box". More interesting, perhaps, is how Ian changes perspective in describing religions compared to "My God" and "Hymn 43" (1971) wherein he criticized the improper use of religion, while in this album Ian tends to highlight the positive side of religion, that is to say, the reflective and meditative aspects.

In short, the album is undoubtedly successful from the thematic point of view, as the compositions are absolutely perfect in describing what Ian wanted to depict, while it is less successful from the arrangement standpoint, which as already explained, are meticulously crafted and ultimately make parts of the album sound heavy and pompous, and especially risk losing the sense of fluidity and improvisation that characterizes much of Jethro Tull's albums.

Nonetheless, it remains a record of good music, and deserves at least one listen. The rating should be more like three and a half rather than just three.