Look Into The Sun
Ian Anderson on what the future holds…
It was a reluctant ian anderson who embarked on Jethro tull’s 50th anniversary tour. “i’m embarrassed by that kind of thing,” he says. “i wanted to hide under the bed and not come out for 12 months.”
the tour also meant that anderson put the writing and recording of his first album since 2014’s homo erraticus on ice. “i thought i’d rather just put it on the back burner and not think about it until i can press the ‘go’ button properly again.”
Before hitting the road, anderson and his band had written and recorded the music for seven songs, and completed vocals and flute for two of them. “We tried to make it as live as possible,” he says.
the singer says the album is likely to feature 12 tracks. “the intention is that seven of them are full band rock numbers, and the other five are things i intend to record alone with just an acoustic guitar and voice. i like the variety and dynamic extremes of doing very spartan acoustic things alongside things with full band members.”
he’s cagey today about specific details. “Oh no, until it’s got to the stage where i’m doing artwork, or maybe even the point of release, it’s best to keep schtum. the minute you start talking about song titles or album titles or lyrical themes, you’re tying your hands behind your back. at this stage, nothing is set in stone.”
that isn’t stopping him toying with the notion of releasing the album in a different way – or perhaps not even releasing it as an album at all. “part of me thinks, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do three eps, each of them four or five months apart? Wouldn’t that be satisfying for the fans more than me?” he says. “having said all of that, this could be a rubbish album and never get released, because i’m getting a bit old and constantly reminded that i only have a little while ahead of me and should probably spend that time doing live shows…”