Anderson, Ian - The Secret Language Of Birds


Year of Release: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com
Label: 2000
Catalog Number: 82762
Format: CD
Total Time: 55:00:00

On the latest Jethro Tull album, J-tull Dot Com, we could hear a bit of the latest solo album by master magician Ian Anderson by means of a bonus track. Anderson has admitted to being influenced by both folk and Arabian rhythms and its especially that rustic, folky feeling that we find on his The Secret Language Of Birds. All of the fifteen songs can be placed under the heading of pure acoustic music, featuring a truly relaxed Anderson on flute, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, bass, mandoline and percussion. Ian is mainly accompanied by keyboard player Andrew Giddings, who, along with accordion, piano and organ, also adds marimba, percussion, electric bass and orchestral sounds to the album.

A nice example of the latter can be found during ?The Little Flower Girl." Arabian influences galore in ?The Water Carrier,? with Martin Barre on guitar, whilst also during ?A Better Moon? a similar atmosphere steps in. In fact this album comes very close to the best of Jethro Tull because, as on Aqualung, to name but one album, you can also find three or so pure acoustic songs that highlight the talent of Ian Anderson, accompanied by a sparse arrangement. Similar music can be found on Songs From The Wood; Heavy Horses also contained a lot of that folk "feel." In fact Anderson is very priviliged because he lives in a huge house in the country and every morning, when he opens the bedroom windows, he looks to the fields and listens to "the secret language of birds."

Each of the fifteen songs on this album are musical paintings like only Anderson can depict them. The lyrics are his canvas, his unique timbre is the royal palette of colours whilst the flute is the 'stand-in' for the much-needed brush. This album also includes a multimedia segment where we can witness a fantastic image quality and a very relaxed Ian Anderson who explains, in a minstrel kind of way, the album, followed by a sober video of the title track. A warm and beautiful album full of class!


Tracklisting:
The Secret Language Of Birds (4:17) / The Little Flower Girl (3:37) / Montserrat (3:21) / Postcard Day (5:07) / The Water Carrier (2:56) / Set-Aside (1:29) / A Better Moon (3:46) / Sanctuary (4:42) / The Jasmine Corridor (3:54) / The Habanero Reel (4:01) / Panama Freighter (3:21) / The Secret Language of Birds, Pt II (3:06) / Boris Dancing (3:07) / Circular Breathing (3:45) / The Stormont Shuffle (3:20)

Musicians:
Ian Anderson - vocals, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, percussion, piccolo
Andrew Giddings - accordion, piano, organ, marimba, percussion, electric bass, keyboards, orchestral sounds
Gerry Conway - drums (1, 2)
Darren Mooney - drums (8, 12)
James Duncan - drums (11)
Martin Barre - electric guitar (5, 13)

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: November 1st 2000
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.jethrotull.com/
Hits: 2287
Language: english

  

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