Anderson, Ian - Homo Erraticus

Year of Release: 2014
Label: KScope
Catalog Number: KSC-CD 292
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:50:00

Ian Anderson is back at it again with a follow up to the surprising sequel to Thick As A Brick, the strong TAAB2. That stout showing with a different band gave Mr. Anderson as much authority as one would expect being the driving force behind Jethro Tull since their inception. So what does the prog legend do for an encore now? Under the banner of Ian Anderson, which equates to Jethro Tull to most of us longtime listeners, we now have the persnickety Gerald Bostock taking another journey on Homo Erraticus. Note that it is not referred to as Homo sapiens but our species gone a bit astray or erratic.

Anderson and band are back in fine and witty form on this release. He colorfully describes the gist of the story on their website and it gives the perspective audience a window into what is going to happen upon listening to the new progressive rock journey. In summary... The now middle-aged Gerald Bostock, after a trip to Mathew Bunter's Old Library Bookshop in Linwell village, the two gents came across a dusty, unpublished manuscript, written by local amateur historian Ernest T. Parritt (1873 -1928), which is entitled "Homo Britanicus Erraticus." Then from there the album jumps into three suites as the story moves along. "Part One: Chronicles" is comprised of tracks 1-8, "Part Two: Prophecies" tracks 9-11 and then rounded out with "Part Three: Revelations" with tracks 12-15.

Anderson brings back the talented Florian Ophale to lead the way on lead guitar along with David Goodier (bass, and double bass), John O'Hara (orchestral conductor, piano, keyboards and accordion), Scott Hammond (drums and percussion) and Ryan O'Donnell (additional vocals).

Anderson continues to burn the midnight oil while opting to explore new avenues and challenges rather than resting on the laurels of previous accomplishments. His voice is the perfect complement to the most entertaining music found on this new album. The pace of each track is ever changing and the scope is broad with artistic strokes of progressive rock, metal and folk to create the backdrop to the story, all with energetic purpose. I think Ian has adjusted well to losing some range in his vocals over the years and the music more than compensates for that change. He is a storyteller supreme and the music is the proverbial icing on the cake.

"Doggerland" leads things off nicely and sets the tone for a proper Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson outing and from that point it gets "progressively" more interesting whilst moving into each suite. As usual Ian's flute adds an entirely different dimension to the music and it just would not be the same without it of course. The different moods and atmospheres are placed properly throughout and the story masterfully told by the master himself. "The Turnpike Inn" is likely to remind you of the heavier JT with the guitar playing, it still works very well. As much as I respect Martin Barre and have enjoyed his work over the years, I cannot see where he is missed, particularly on this rocker. Ophale does more than an adequate job and most certainly Ian would take no less than the best musicians to work with to perform his compositions. "The Engineer" picks it up again with some strong guitar lines and Ian's voice is very capable here. "Tripudium Ad Bellum" keeps the fires burning with rapid flute lines to kick off the proceedings then the intro takes a turn with some nice jazzy guitar as Ian has some fun leading the way with his flute. Suddenly it changes again with some driving passages like TAAB had to offer. It is an instrumental foray that introduces you to the second suite in a most classic prog way. "The Browning Of The Green" rounds out the final suite. It is a drive you home number with great music from all points. The combinations of instruments and unique vocals created in this recording take the best of what Anderson and band has to offer. The rock, folk and metal combined is what you would expect and that is exactly what you get on this entertaining excursion. "Cold Dead Reckoning" ends the opus most appropriately with the classic JT sound and flair. The title has finality to it and the music lures you in and hits hard leaving you to think what could possibly come next but alas this story is over. In the end what you get is an all-encompassing state of man set to music that surely has another chapter to tell down the line. I don't think we have heard the last of Gerald Bostock... that is if man made it out of the desolate land he walked upon as the curtain closes one more time.

I must admit upon first listen I was not too sure about this album, but after several more subsequent spins it grew on me a few notches upon the ladder of approval. This is not music you can listen to in the background; it demands your complete attention to be appreciated as an entire work of art. It's never cut and dried with Mr. Anderson and you will find once you consume every bite of this full course meal that Homo Erraticus is yet another triumph. This is indeed a musical story that deserves repeated listens. Is this another prog rock classic? I have no doubt that it is. You must add the album to your collection if you have a place in your heart and soul for progressive music.

Key Tracks: Doggerland, The Turnpike Inn, The Browning Of The Green

Tracklisting:
Part One: Chronicles: Doggerland (4:20) / Heavy Metals (1:32) / Enter The Uninvited (4:12) / Puer Ferox Adventus (7:13) / Meliora Sequamur (3:34) / The Turnpike Inn (3:07) / The Engineer (3:11) / The Pax Britannica (3:05) // Part Two: Prophecies: Tripudium Ad Bellum / After These Wars (4:29) / New Blood, Old Veins (2:31) // Part Three: In For A Pound (0:36) / The Browning Of The Green (4:05) / Per Errationes Ad Astra (1:34) / Cold Dead Reckoning (5:31)

Musicians:
Ian Anderson - flute, acoustic guitar, vocals
David Goodier - bass
Scott Hammond - drums
John O'Hara - accordion, keyboards, Hammond organ, piano
Ryan O'Donnell - vocals
Florian Opahle - electric guitar

Discography:
Jethro Tull - This Was (1968)
Jethro Tull - Stand Up (1969)
Jethro Tull - Benefit (1970)
Jethro Tull - Aqualung (1971)
Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (1972)
Jethro Tull - Living In The Past (1972)
Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (1973)
Jethro Tull - War Child (1974)
Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)
Jethro Tull - M.U. The Best Of (1976)
Jethro Tull - Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die (1976)
Jethro Tull - Songs From The Wood (1977)
Jethro Tull - Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2 (1977)
Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses (1978)
Jethro Tull - Bursting Out - Live (1978)
Jethro Tull - Stormwatch (1979/2004)
Jethro Tull - 'A' (1980)
Jethro Tull - The Broadsword And The Beast (1982/2005)
Walk Into Light (fea. Peter J Vettese) (1983)
Jethro Tull - Under Wraps (1984)
Jethro Tull - Original Masters (1985)
Jethro Tull - Crest Of A Knave (1987/2005)
Jethro Tull - 20 Years Of Jethro Tull (1988)
Jethro Tull - Rock Island (1988)
Jethro Tull - Catfish Rising (1991)
Jethro Tull - A Little Light Music (1992)
Jethro Tull - The Anniversary Collection (1993)
Jethro Tull - 25th Anniversary Box Set (1993)
Jethro Tull - Nightcap (1995)
Jethro Tull - Roots To Branches (1995)
Divinities: Twelve Dances With God (1995)
Jethro Tull - J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
The Secret Language of Birds (2000)
Jethro Tull - The Very Best Of (2001)
Jethro Tull - Living With The Past (2002)
Jethro Tull - The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)
Rupi's Dance (2003)
Jethro Tull - Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004)
Jethro Tull - Aqualung Live (2005)
Ian Anderson And The Neue Philharmonic Frankfurt - Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005)
Ian Anderson and the London Symphony Orchestra - London Symphony Orchestra Plays Jethro Tull (2006)
Jethro Tull - Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
Jethro Tull - LIve At Madison Square Garden (2009)
Jethro Tull - Christmas Album (2009)
Jethro Tull - Live In Switzerland 2003 (LP) (2014)
Thick As A Brick 2 (2012)
Homo Erraticus (2014)

Jethro Tull - Slipstream (VHS) (1991)
Jethro Tull - First 20 Years (VHS) (1992)
Jethro Tull - 25th Anniversary Video (1994) (VHS)
Jethro Tull - Living With The Past (DVD) (2002) Jethro Tull - A New Day Yesterday 1969-1994 (DVD) (2003)
Jethro Tull - Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (DVD) (2005)
Jethro Tull - NOthing Is Easy/Living With The Past (DVD) (2007)
Jethro Tull - Jack In The Green: Live In Germany (DVD) (2008)
Jethro Tull - Live In Bethlehem, PA, 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Jethro Tull - Their Full Authorized Story (DvD) (2009)
Jethro Tull - Live At AVO Session 2008 (DVD) (2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: April 27th 2014
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jethrotull.com
Hits: 4542
Language: english