A

Given the initial idea that the "A" project would be his first solo work, Ian Anderson summoned musicians different from those of Jethro Tull, with the intention of generating a more accessible and 'modernised' proposal, in keeping with the synthesised and industrial atmospheres that were emerging in the early 80's, and which the Scottish musician thought was more appropriate to express as a personal initiative. But somewhere along the way, the ship "A" (1980) changed course, and ended up landing in the Jethro Tull universe, to become the band's thirteenth album, something which, by the way, generated the resentment of the stable members and Anderson's subsequent personal clarifications.

Taking a step away from the rural landscapes and medieval settings so characteristic of the band, in exchange for futuristic preoccupations with far-reaching issues such as the nuclear threat that seemed inevitably looming over the earth, "A" seems to fall somewhere musically between one thing and the other.

Passages that hark back to the more recognisable Jethro Tull, as with the opening acoustic chords of "Working John, Working Joe", or the synchronised agility and interesting choruses of "Fylingdale Flyer", or with the intricate instrumental development crowned by the stupendous guitar solo of Martin Barre (the only stable member who finally participated in the work) sharing the limelight with the keyboards of guest Eddie Jobson in the excellent "Black Sunday", or also with the instrumental display of Celtic airs in the anxious instrumental "The Pine Marten's Jig", end up configuring the highlights of 'A'.

On the other hand, neither the sharp electric violins of Jobson (very active as in the whole album) in "Uniform", nor the bluesy half-time of the repetitive "4. (Low Ratio)" rescue their pieces, and even less the surprising and exaggeratedly synth pop of "Batteries Not Included" (very far from the band's expected sonorities) contributes significantly to a work that the apocalyptic and reflective "And Further On" concludes, with an elegant guitar solo in between by Barre.

"A" is certainly not a bad album, but in light of the final result, it probably would have been a better fit as Anderson's first solo effort.

3 stars