SONGS FROM THE WOOD

This record is folk prog hard rock. It is very rythmic and very acoustic: there is omnipresence of flute, acoustic guitars and percussions. There is lute and mandolin too. But it is quite more elaborated than the acoustic "Too Old To Rock'n Roll, Too Young To Die". Indeed there are keyboards played by 2 musicians, mostly piano and distortion free organ. The keyboards are not too much in the foreground, so that you can enjoy all the acoustic instruments. There are lots of percussions (glockenspiel, marimba, bells), and often it really sounds like if it is played next to a fireplace. The electric bass is absolutely not timid and complex enough, and its sound is very good. Barre's electric guitars are less present here, but there are songs which are rather prog hard rock. Ian ANDERSON's warm voice is excellent, as always. The presence of David PALMER gives some symphonic style to the ensemble.