24 albums in, six decades in the music business (a concert to mark this already enthusiastically reviewed in DISS), Ian Anderson, thankfully, shows no signs of letting up. In an interview with PROG magazine the album is described as and introspective/ first person “collection of songs” based on the loose concept of his “thirst for knowledge.” Ian also reveals that he was like a “sponge” soaking up sci-fi in his early years.
‘Puppet and the Puppet Master’ is described as a “shape-shifting folk rock tour-de-force” with a notable guitar solo from newcomer Jack Clark. ‘Drink from the Same Well’ clocks in at an epic, of “Thick as a Brick” proportions at 16 minutes plus. ‘Savannah of Paddington Green’, with its flute and accordion, is a global warming warning, with a line about humans having a “death wish”. ‘Interim Sleep’ is equally forthright, acoustic guitar creating a haunting atmospheric over spoken word, a song that started as a poem about a letter written by a deceased person offering comfort to a bereaved one, with implied ruminations about the afterlife and reincarnation.
“Curious Ruminant” is an important release and this initial outline will be the forerunner to a comprehensive review in the next issue of ACID DRAGON. Ian also talks about his love for literally freelancing to support other artists if he feels the calling and of the possibility of reworkings of “Crest of a Knave” and “Under Wraps”, something else to look forward in this crazy mixed-up world we live in.
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