A PASSION PLAY: AN EXTENDED PERFOMANCE

Throughout the years this album has become my favourite of all the Jethro Tull catalogue. It is a bit hard to get into, i admit, but once you get it, it grows on you and never gets old. I simply find it absolutely perfect. Even the story of the hair seems strangely appropriate, providing a comic relief on a originally heavy record. Ian Anderson extends its musical expressions to the saxophone and I find this absolutely beautiful because it blends in with the other instruments (mainly the organ) in a way the flute doesn't. Martin Barre is a monster on this one along with Barriemore Barlow. Amazing lines and grooves. Ian is singing with the normal intention but here it seems the story has the perfect mixture of humour and sneering intelligence that somehow on other records feel a bit dislocated (mainly War Child and Too Old to Rock 'n Roll). A Passion Play never gets boring, the melodies are intricate but absolutely gorgeous and the band shifts from one part to the other seamlessly (one of the few problems of TAAB). After I found out about the Chateau recordings I could appreciate even more this recording. Because we feel it was honed to perfection by the band. If there's a Jethro Tull recording that deserves 5 stars. It is this one. A masterpiece.