Jethro Tull
Songs From The Wood

Well then... this is the first review I write, so forgive me if it's not entirely perfect.

It’s 1977, and while the world, now orphaned of the progressive phenomenon, is swept by punk, Ian Anderson's band emerges from a troubled period, marked by beautiful underrated works (“Minstrel In The Gallery”) and some less impressive ones: tense relations with the press, discontent... it certainly doesn’t seem like a productive atmosphere. Yet Jethro Tull releases a fresh and original work that brings them back to the heights of popularity: “Songs From The Wood”. Tied to folk sounds with hard rock hues, the album opens with the chilling entrance of Ian Anderson's splendid voice introducing the title track, characterized by a perfect intertwining of individual instruments, particularly the leader's flute and John Evan’s keyboards. It continues with rustic-flavored songs (such as “Ring Out Solstice Bells” or the beautiful “Jack In The Green”, still a flagship piece today), longer and more complex tracks (all musically impeccable, especially “Velvet Green”) and small folk gems (“The Whistler”), leading to what I consider the masterpiece of the album, “Pibroch (Cap In Hand)”. Martin Barre’s hard guitar introduces a pastoral dance that culminates in a stunning solo of the magical flute, then returns to the initial theme, once more with the powerful riff of the brilliant guitarist. Goosebumps for 8 minutes. The work ends with the beautiful “Fire At Midnight”, leaving the listener deeply satisfied.

“Songs From The Wood” is a solid album, well executed (the lineup is completed by the unfortunate John Glascock on bass and Barriemore Barlow on drums) and with no weak spots (which is no small feat). I truly recommend it warmly, because it is one of the best examples of the creative verve of a band that truly contributed a lot to the history of music, not always reciprocated as they truly deserve.