This new release has a sound more closely likened to the folk/acoustic material of the middle years than outright rockers, but it is, without doubt, classic Jethro Tull music. Anderson’s signatures are there in his soft and nuanced vocals, flute solos and Elizabethan melodies and his accompanying band do an excellent job behind him. The writing is a more personal tone than usual from Ian Anderson and he sometimes wears his heart on both sleeves, albeit not in the falsely emotional manner of standard rock and pop.
Some of the songs were laid down as instrumental demos and jams, and these have grown into fully fleshed out songs. The same musicians were used on the demo tracks as the final recordings so there is no gap in the styles and songs of the rest of the alum.
After two consecutive new Jethro Tull album releases in 2022 and 2023, another collection – ‘Curious Ruminant’ – is unleashed on the 7th March 2025. Consisting of nine tracks varying in length from two and half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, this is an album of mostly full band music. Amongst the musicians featured are former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, along with the current band members David Goodier, John O’Hara, Scott Hammond and, making his recording debut with the band, guitarist Jack Clark.
Jethro Tull Announce ‘The Tipu House’ – second single from ‘Curious Ruminant’
The album consisting of nine new tracks varying in length from two and half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, this is an album of mostly full band music. Following the launch of the albums title track in January, they are now pleased to reveal the second single “The Tipu House”.
Ian describes “The Tipu House” as a song of aspiration in adversity, and comments: Our societies are filled with those who have risen from relative poverty to positions of greatness in the world and their successes are a beacon of hope for the rest of us, even if “greatness” is a relative concept at the end of it all.
Ian Anderson had been saying for months following the release of “RökFlöte” that he would embark on a new project in late 2023. He waited only a few weeks before the first notions began to solidify into some drafted words of intent and in May 2024, some unfinished music recorded earlier with John O’Hara, David Goodier and James Duncan became the starting point for the new songs as they took shape.
Writing the lyrics and melodies for all the newly written material came very quickly once he began in earnest during June and just seemed to slot right in to the musical feel and styles of the earlier recordings.
Anderson’s writing here is often on a more personal level of lyric content than we are used to hearing. Interspersed with his usual observational descriptions are the slightly more heart-on-sleeve moments of soul-baring albeit not on the topics more often paraded by the usual I-me lyric merchants of pop and rock.
Some of the songs are developed from unfinished instrumental demos made some years ago although this does not result in a huge stylistic divide to jump out at the listener. Apart from the signature flute solos and melodies, accordion, mandolin, acoustic and tenor guitars feature on several tracks too, so the subtle backdrop of acoustic and folk rock serves to remind of the Tull heritage of the 70s.
‘Curious Ruminant’ will be available on several different formats, including a Ltd Deluxe Ultra Clear 180g 2LP + 2CD + Blu-ray Artbook & Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook. Both of these feature the main album, alternative stereo mixes & a blu-ray containing Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound (once again undertaken by Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief), as well as exclusive interview material.
The Ltd Deluxe vinyl artbook also includes in 2 exclusive art-prints. The album will also be available as a Special Edition CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g LP + LP-booklet & as Digital Album (in both stereo & Dolby Atmos).
Ian Anderson – Flute, Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals, Jack Clark – Guitar, Scott Hammond – Drums and percussion, John O’Hara – Orchestral conductor, piano, keyboards and accordion, David Goodier – Bass guitar and double bass plus former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan.
The Fat Angel Sings 