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Rating:
Ian Anderson no longer seems like himself. 1984 is a tragic year because 'Under Wraps' is released. The charismatic leader of Jethro Tull, after having produced the excellent "Broadsword and the Beast," perhaps makes the first misstep of his career (which is not "A Passion Play," as many unjustly claim, damn it!).
"Under Wraps" is Jethro Tull's worst album: cold, too technological, not acoustic enough, not melodic enough, and especially lacking the flute that made the band famous. Many things stand out: the co-writing with keyboardist Peter-John Vettese and Barre (who signs a couple of tracks for the first time, what a sad debut!), the almost entirely electronic drumming (a sad debut also for the great drummer Doane Perry!), a sound far removed from 'Aqualung,' 'Stand Up,' or 'Thick As A Brick,' made up of synthesizers, samplers, and other electronic gimmicks.
Even the band's logo changes (but this is nice, come on, I'll give you that!). Vettese, who had already shown his skills in Ian Anderson's 'Walk into Light,' is the first and only member of Jethro Tull of Italian origin and fails to uphold the honor of such a creative nation as ours. I don't dispute him as a keyboardist, but as a composer.
But many fans, especially the die-hard ones, still continue to support them: 'Under Wraps' reaches number 18 (!) in the UK charts, while the Americans are less lenient, with a meager number 76. Already from the gray cover, you can glimpse the dullness of the tracks. Later that Same Evening, Radio Free Moscow, Paparazzi, Nobody’s Car, Apogee and Astronomy are dreadful pieces that are hard to listen to all the way through.
It's official: the most horrendous song Jethro has ever written is General Crossing, a pointless piece that communicates nothing, except perhaps annoying sounds. Slightly better are perhaps Automotive Engineering, Under Wraps #1, the riff of Saboteur, Heat (with a flute intro that promises well) and the aggressive Tundra. Lap of Luxury was conceived as a commercial song and thus optimistically launched as a single (number 70 in the charts). It wouldn't even be a bad song. There's also a music video available in the remastered version of the CD.
But there's also another side to the album: a niche of old Jethro as I like it, and indeed it's found in the only two pieces exclusively signed by Anderson. European Legacy is an exciting piece with a beautiful vocal, the return of the acoustic guitar, and a flute interlude (followed, however, by synths). The acoustic gem worthy of being framed alongside pieces like Wondering Aloud and Only Solitaire is Under Wraps #2. Beautiful.
But two pieces aren't enough to save an album that, in my opinion, is as flat as a sole. The production of this album lasts nine months, at the end of which even the faithful Martin Barre will confess to having grown tired. The only one truly unhappy with the album, however, will be bassist Dave Pegg, unsurprisingly the folk soul of the group during the '80s.
It's said that in this album Ian Anderson completely got the tones of the songs wrong (listen to Under Wraps #1 to believe it), too different from his usual way of singing. Unsurprisingly, he will take a year's break before returning (or perhaps I should say being reborn) in '86 with an album of classics presented with the orchestra and then in 1987 with the excellent 'Crest of a Knave.' But Ian's voice will never be the same again, and maybe that's also why I hate this album.
Paradoxically, at the end of this massive work, Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, Dave Pegg, and drummer Gerry Conway will find themselves writing with David (now Dee, sigh!) Palmer the song that becomes the soundtrack for the documentary series "The Blood of the British": the epic, folkloristic, magniloquent Coronach.
But that's a whole different music.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Lap of Luxury (03:36)
The money won't last forever ---
rent man called twice today.
I hope some day you'll find me
in the lap of luxury.
Searched for a new apartment
but they don't grow on trees.
Just want to lay my head
in the lap of luxury.
Stepped out on a new horizon ---
felt a new spring in my feet.
Found a job, it could set me up
dangling in the lap of luxury.
And the gaffer is a man of substance ---
drives a jag and takes high tea.
Lives beyond the industrial wasteland,
laughing in the lap of luxury.
I need money, now, to soothe my heart!
Buy me a Datsun or Toyota ---
get the tax man to agree
all expenses I can muster
from the lap of luxury.
03 European Legacy (03:22)
She smiles at me
from beyond the eastern sea-shore.
Flashing jewelled eyes,
she hoists her skirts so high.
Nouvelle cuisine or an oyster bar ---
it's really up to her.
I'll write every cheque she brings to me.
I shoot on sight ---
it's my European legacy.
Round the castle walls ---
about the Highlands and the Islands
the faint reminders stand.
A visitor who took a hand
a thousand years ago, or so ---
stranded high and dry by tides ---
washed up a new identity.
The channel's wide ---
but it's their European legacy.
I strain my eyes
against the southern light advancing.
On whiter cliffs I'm high.
The sea birds roll and tumble as they fly.
I hear distant mainland music echo
in my island ears.
My feet begin to move instinctively
to the warmer beat of my European legacy.
She smiles at me
from beyond the eastern sea-shore.
Flashing jewelled eyes,
she hoists her skirts so high.
Nouvelle cuisine or an oyster bar ---
it's really up to her.
I'll write every cheque she brings to me.
She shoots on sight ---
it's her European legacy.
05 Saboteur (03:32)
In and out of shady places ---
walking on cold corners of the maze.
Following the trace you leave unwittingly.
I wanna be no Saboteur.
Oh, no, me no Saboteur.
Painted ducks across your landscape ---
happy in your domesticity (it don't come free).
Misfortune, like a Sparrow Hawk, hangs over you.
Wanna be no Saboteur.
No, no, me no Saboteur.
Deepest regrets I humbly offer you
as I cut into your life.
With clean precision, all is simplified ---
pass the hat and pass the knife.
By now you must be worried, wondering
who is me and what lies behind my art.
I'm only removing broken sea-shells from the beach ---
oh, no, me no Saboteur.
There's at least one of me inside your ranks
in your factory or school.
I anticipate a cleansing opportunity
to take the horns by the bull.
History forever writing
pages to be cut or painted grey,
or celebrated like Jesus in his
temple rage
as he chased the money-men away.
I wanna be no Saboteur.
Be no, be no Saboteur.
07 Astronomy (03:38)
The middle lane has trapped my car in red-light claustrophobia. I slip the shackles, cut the rope --- stand naked with a telescope as the cat walks alone under a big sky. Against the dark so thin and white --- gonna be a big sky night. Miss Galileo, come with me and view the new Astronomy. Black hole dressing on salad plate --- quasar at the kissing gate. Now the cat, he walks alone under a big sky. Umbrella dome pin-pricked in lights --- gonna be a big sky night. My spectacles, my white lab coat --- my coffee, thermos and my notes. I pat my pockets. I got the keys to the secrets of the observatory. And closing the door, I feel a new dawn as the darker slides align --- you to yours and me to mine. And now you stand, assisting me --- I can touch what I can see, see, see. I look in wonder, I feel no shame --- see the consequences of the game. Expand the universe. Head for the Big Bang. Reach for my switch and shout --- gonna turn the big sky out. There's got to be astronomy. Astronomy.
08 Tundra (03:41)
Short Arctic desert day ---
and someone left their snow-shoes in the tundra.
Look around every which way
but I can't see just where the footprints go.
Is it a casual disappearance? ---
Plucked from the middle atmosphere
like straw wind-blown.
No speck on the horizon ---
no simple message scrawled
upon the snow.
Unearthly visitation ---
someone left their snow-shoes in the tundra.
Hungry buzzard flier
circling round and round
rattling death's tambourine.
Have to run it down the cold wire ---
late insertion in tomorrow's lost and found.
Should I spread out searching?
But I'm a little thin upon the ground.
So I raise my lips to coax
the last drop of brandy from the bottle.
Rest my feet and contemplate
the mystery that's haunting
this Siberian space.
Show-shoes they bind me down ---
I'm just one more parasite of the surface layer.
I begin to get the feeling
I've been on this stage before
and I'm the only player.
One more Arctic desert day ---
another set of shoes out in the tundra snow.
I make my fade to white-out
and you can't see me where my footprints go.
09 Nobody's Car (04:08)
Black Volga following me ---
Nobody's car.
Mr. No-one at the wheel of
Nobody's car.
Wet pavements, thin apartments ---
quiet dissent from darkened doorways.
I want out alive.
Speak up for me if you can.
So, careful how you drive
in tourist city.
Slap in front of my hotel ---
it's Nobody's car.
Is that my limousine?
No, it's Nobody's car.
Are you on routine assignment?
Plastic shades on black-browed eye-hole.
I read this book before.
I even saw the film.
How did the ending go?
(Intourist city.)
Black out.
It's a weird scenario.
I've seen a thousand times before
but only on my video.
Feel my steps quick in the headlights
of Nobody's car.
Down cobbled alley with no exit from
Nobody's car.
Doors slam, two figures silhouette ---
somewhere before, I feel we've met.
Can't tell you any more.
I agreed to go along with all they asked of me.
Intourist city.
I drive Nobody's car.
10 Heat (05:37)
When the rats are running
and the boys are gunning
for heads on a tin plate ---
you can hear the footfall
softly in the back yard.
And the black jack is called
face up on the last card.
You'd better call your witness
in your dirty business.
Trop tard sera le cri.
Better run while you can ---
better set the tall sail.
Better make deep cover
before the boys have you nailed.
There's just one chance to get away ---
I'll catch up with you another day.
I'll close my eyes and count to ten
and come right after you again.
Grab your credit cards ---
cash in on your resources.
Take your passport from the drawer,
don't stop to change the horses.
Get out of the heat.
Now can you feel the pressure?
Have you got the measure
of being a wanted man?
Cold drink in your hand ---
hot sweat on your brow.
And there's no understanding
going to help you now.
Grab your credit cards ---
cash in on your resources.
Take your passport from the drawer,
don't stop to change the horses.
Notify all parties
of an earlier vacation.
No use trying to board the train
after it's left the station.
Get out of the heat.
11 Under Wraps #2 (02:14)
Keep it quiet. (go slow.)
Circulate. need to know.
Stamp the date upon your file ---
Masquerade, but well worth while.
Wrapped in the warmth of you ---
Wrapped up in your smile.
Wrapped in the folds of your attention.
Wear an air --- (keep mum)
Of casual indifference.
Careful how you go
About your usual business.
Wrapped in daydreams of you ---
Wrapped up by your eyes.
Wrapped in the folds of your attention.
Under wraps! i've got you under wraps.
Tell you when --- (not yet)
Soon the great unveiling.
Bless my boots! upon my soul!
Secrecy, it is my failing.
Wrapped in your summer night ---
Wrapped in your autumn leaves.
Wrapped in the winter of your sleeping.
12 Paparazzi (03:47)
Paparazzi, can't make the man.
Paparazzi, can't break the man.
Next to the transit lounge
see the Paparazzi tears.
No-one came in today
from Boston or Tangiers.
And in departures ---
only faceless trippers trip,
loaded with duty free
held in white knuckle grip.
Snap it up, flash away ---
steal a camel for a day.
Break the story in heavy type ---
the news is running late tonight.
Be-decked with Nikon necklaces
hear the Paparazzi cries.
Under their noses walk
the famous in disguise.
Conspicuously huddled there
but no-one stops to look.
They've got their crayons out
to colour in the book.
Snap it up, flash away ---
steal a camel for a day.
Break the story in heavy type ---
Paparazzi won't be home tonight.
Paparazzi --- write it down.
Paparazzi --- turn it around.
Paparazzi --- take it, fake it,
break it.
`Cos it's a story.
Now someone's cut the lines
communication's down.
All photo film is fogged.
Celebrities surround
and jab their fingers at me.
They kiss but I can't tell.
Even poor Paparazzi
must have privacy as well.
Snap it up, flash away ---
steal a camel for a day.
Break the story in heavy type ---
the news is running late tonight.
Snap it up, flash away ---
steal a camel for a day.
Break the story in heavy type ---
Paparazzi won't be home tonight.
13 Apogee (05:29)
Sailing round the true-blue sphere---
is it too late to bale out of here?
Well, there has to be some better way
to turn back the night,
spin on to yesterday.
The old man and his crew---
after all these years,
it's apogee.
Pilot training and remorse---
spirit friends fly too,
at apogee.
Apogee --- solar bright.
Apogee --- through the night.
Apogee --- overground.
Don't think I'll be coming down.
Screened for a stable mate
with nerves of ice we flew,
at apogee.
No creativity allowed
to pass through stainless veins of steel,
at apogee.
Apogee --- put the kettle on.
Tight-lipped --- soldier on.
High point --- communicate.
Don't forget to urinate.
So glad they put this window in.
How to explain, how to begin?
See! Tennyson and Wordsworth there
waiting for me in the cold, thin air.
Beware a host of unearthly daffodils
drifting golden, turned up loud.
Tell the boys back home,
I'm gonna get some.
The Wrong Stuff's loose in here ---
I'm climbing up the walls,
at apogee.
So hoist the skull and bones ---
death and glory's free,
at apogee.
A stranger wind, a solar breeze ---
I'm walking out upon the starry seas.
See pyramids, see standing stones ---
pink cotton undies and blue telephones.
Goodbye, cruel world that was my home ---
there's a cleaner space out there to roam.
Put my feet up on the moons of Mars ---
sit back, relax and count the stars.
14 Automotive Engineering (04:05)
In the hands of science ---
the complete appliance.
We're moved to motor.
Do you fly a Spitfire?
Do you slide on a tea-tray?
Or walk on a short trip (Sundays).
Or drive come what may (enjoy).
Automotive science and engineering.
When big was better ---
and fast was chic,
the oil was cheaper ---
now we're up the creek.
But the Japs are coming
and everyone's turbo'd
and carbon fibre
is the way to go, go.
Down at the robot factory
things are humming.
New radical suspension ---
no humans testing.
(Wind it up, wind it up.)
Take a trip
in your Freudian slip.
Doctor Ferdinand (Ferdie)
has you in his grip.
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By v8interceptor
It's not a classic, neither of Jethro Tull nor of rock itself, rather, it’s a Techno-Rock experiment and should be understood as such.
Martin Barre... reaches the pinnacle here, an exceptional guitarist, just watch his live performances from those concerts.
