Stormwatch (album)
Occupation
- Ian Anderson - flute, vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass
- Martin Barre - electric guitar
- John Evan - piano, organ
- Barrie Barlow - drums, percussion
- John Glascock - bass guitar
- David Palmer - piano, synthesizer, string arrangements
- Francis Wilson - speaking voice
- Dave Pegg - bass guitar
Stormwatch is the twelfth studio album by the progressive rock band Jethro Tull.
- 6.1 Side A
- 6.2 Side B
- 6.3 Extra tracks
Occupation
Jethro Tull played an album with Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, John Evan, Barrie Barlow, John Glascock and David Palmer. The texts and almost all compositions are, as usual, Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson, who along with Robin Black also produced the album. Palmer has composed the title Elegy.
It is the last studio album by Jethro Tull, to the John Evan, Barrie Barlow, David Palmer and John Glascock participated. Bassist Glascock was due to heart disease play on only three pieces and died on 17 November 1979 in London. In the remaining pieces Anderson played the bass.
History
The band recorded the album in the spring and summer of 1979. Recording sites were, as in previous albums, again the Maison Rouge Mobile and Maison Rouge Studio in Fulham, London. The album was released on 14 September 1979. Published in 2004 a remastered CD with the songs from the LP version and four bonus tracks.
Album
Stormwatch applies for songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses as the last of three albums of folk-rock era of the band. But like his previous albums, it also contains progressive rock elements. The lyrics consist inter alia of the oil production in the North Sea and the environmental protection. Also, two instrumental tracks are available.
LP version
North Sea oil is a fast, rocking piece with dominant flute. In the text, the role of North Sea oil is described, whose training and wealth, but mainly cause hazards such as pollution and inflation. The piece is built Orion complex. Rocking passages alternate with acoustic sequences. In the background play strings. The singer appeals to the constellation of Orion, to consider the spaces from the horizon to the pillow of the singer. Home is about the cozy feeling of being at home. It's a folky ballad, which is also accompanied by strings.
Dark Ages comes closest to the progressive rock. The piece develops slowly after a gentle start. In this case, electric guitar, piano and flute come as soloists used. The title refers to the future of a metaphorical cold winter, and the apathy of the people in the face of this danger. The song Warm Sporran is an instrumental track that is named after the Scottish sporran clothing accessory that can be worn with the kilt. The piece begins fast played jazz rock like and then reminiscent of a Scottish dance, but is much more complex. Among other things, can be heard ( by type of vocalise ) text free choral singing.
Something's on the Move is about a coming ice age, which is allegorically represented as a female person. The meteorologist announced understatement that "something in the suit " is. The piece is a fast rock song, which is dominated by flute and electric guitar. Old Ghosts is a folky piece with acoustic instruments, including stringed instruments. The song has rock elements and acts of an imminent danger, the cats and children are afraid, while the singer defies the risk, albeit with difficulty. Dun Ringill is about a Iron Age site on the Scottish island of Skye. The song is introduced by Francis Wilson as a speaker. It is a folksy ballad that is accompanied by the acoustic guitar. The singer invites a person to participate in Dun Ringill to ancient pagan rituals. A line is called and the storm brews watch.
Flying Dutchman starts slowly and gets louder after a quiet start. The piece corresponds to a slow shanty, but which is accentuated by a flute solo, and the use of the electric guitar. An old woman stands at the harbor, the last herring is caught. The singer threatens those who do not recognize the danger of having to continue with the Flying Dutchman into the unknown. Elegy is a slow instrumental piece with a baroque character. Keyboard, Flute and later the electric guitar playing alternately the subject. Palmer dedicated the piece to his late father.
Bonus title
In addition, the title, the CD includes four additional tracks: A Stitch in Time, Crossword, Kelpie and King Henry's Madrigal, a version of the English composed by Henry VIII in the 16th century madrigal Pastime With Good Company.
Cover
The front and back of the cover together form an image. The front shows living near drawing of a bearded man - apparently Ian Anderson - with rainwear, gloves and binoculars. In binoculars and in the eyes of the person reflect flashes and an oil rig. This, the waving, wet, partly ice-covered hair and flying birds indicate a snowstorm. The gray - greenish image fills almost the entire front, the top are the names of band and album, written in the then typical computer font with seven-segment display. At the bottom are four poetic lines about the "Storm Watch ", which also are the spoken introduction to the title Dun Ringill. On the back are on the left edge of the back titles, occupation and other "credits" noted. The main part takes the drawing of a partially collapsing glacier and an oversized polar bear who runs roaring over snow-covered industrial plants and destroyed. In the background, two oil platforms can be seen on snow covered ice. In the upper right corner, a person can be seen in the raincoat as shading, also flying birds are again shown. Bottom right is a part of the raincoat from the front to see.
Effect
The album reached # 40 in the UK and number 22 in the U.S.. In Allmusic the album received two out of five possible points.