(Review from getreadytorock.com, progarchives.com)

The last time Jethro Tull recorded with a symphony orchestra was in 1984 for the excellent album ‘A Classic Case’. Essentially that was the band with a concert orchestra, so we had the great Martin Barre riffing against a full ‘classical’ ensemble.

This time, Ian Anderson is without his bandmates. With not even Tull arranger Andy Giddings as a musical figleaf, he teamed up with the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004, augmented by several musicians who featured on his solo album ‘Rupi’s Dance’ in 2003.

This double live album stretches from material as old as Bourée from 1969, to something as recent as Ian Anderson’s last solo release, Rupi’s Dance, only two years earlier. The set list varies from acoustic tracks with vocals, with only mere orchestral touches, to the full band pieces where orchestra goes all out, and even songs that have been completely re-written and orchestra makes it its own. Aqualung isn’t even recognizable until vocals begin, which is extremely fresh and even veteran, life-long Tull fans will adore this rendition.

Sometimes the orchestra adds another dimension of energy or substance to the music, and other times it simply complements the melodies, and fortifies the beauty of the music. But it always works perfectly, and it never seems misplaced.

The production is brilliant, the sound quality is excellent and the re-workings of the old songs are nothing short of phenomenal. Any casual Tull fan, or die-hard, shouldn’t miss this.

Line-up:
- Ian Anderson / flute, bamboo flute, acoustic guitar, vocals
with
- James Duncan / drums, percussion
- David Goodier / bass, glockenspiel
- John O’Hara / keyboards, accordian
- Florian Opahle / acoustic and electric guitar
- Various Members of the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic Orchestra

Track List:
CD1
01. Eurology (3:30)
02. Calliandra Shade (5:42)
03. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day (4:03)
04. Up The Pool (3:22)
05. We Five Kings (3:32)
06. Life Is A Long Song (3:34)
07. In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff (3:02)
08. Wond’ring Aloud (2:11)
09. Griminelli’s Lament (3:10)
10. Cheap Day Return (1:27)
11. Mother Goose (5:46)
12. Bouree (5:17)
13. Boris Dancing (3:31)
14. Living In The Past (4:48)
CD2
01. Pavane (4:37)
02. Aqualung (10:24)
03. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (4:58)
04. My God (8:52)
05. Budapest (14:04)
06. Locomotive Breath (6:42)

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