HEAVY HORSES

Despite apparent similarities with its predecessor, 'Heavy Horses' is an album that stands out in the discography of Jethro Tull predominantly for its tonal richness and lavish arrangements, the depth of the weaving interplay between the guitars and the flutes, and the rather fascinating inspiration of the English countryside and daily life, almost in complete rejection of moving forward with the trends, which was creatively propelling many of Tull's piers by the end of the decade. This rootsy and somewhat cynical album is perhaps one of the best-arranged and most carefully articulated releases from the band, where the listener might appreciate the gradual shift towards heavier guitars and more tempestuous undertones, especially when looking backwards. We do not have a definitive return to the majestic orchestrations of a 'TAAB', but more of a careful re-iteration of some distant echoes of 'This Was' and 'Stand Up'.

'Heavy Horses', while rarely mentioned as one of the band's masterpieces, remains by all means one of the most consistent albums revealing the full extent of J-Tull's inherent musical richness, of the magical songcraft perpetrated by the genial combination of the talents of Ian Anderson, Martin Barre and Barriemore Barlow, with the valued contributions of the other members as well, of course. Painting a realistic picture of country living, Anderson does not betray his flamboyant and remarkable writing style, here layered with "rural" tones, and topped by the frontman's acutely impressive vocals. The entire first side of the LP is perfect with the sole exception of the rather overlong 'No Lullaby', while side two offers an interesting variety of folkier rock tunes like the massive title track or the gorgeous closing piece 'Weathercock'. The entire album is a fabulous treat for enjoyers of the Jethro Tull aesthetic, and while none of the material on here is necessarily groundbreaking, 'Heavy Horses' is a stocky, picturesque album that adds up to that folk rock mythos surrounding the band.

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