tullist
Master Craftsman
Posts: 478
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Post by tullist on Apr 1, 2010 21:13:23 GMT
SLOB for me - a fine collection of melodies. Two that stand out for me (but don't seem to get a mention here) are the lovely fragment Set-Aside (how I would love to hear that developed!) and Sanctuary. But I want to stand up (pun not intended) for Divinities. Not a proper comparison as it's such a different project but I think there are some nicely developed themes. No idea who John Tesh is (and sounds like I don't want to - right?) but here's a thought about In Defence of Faith. This idea may have been put in my head by the title, but it seems to me a very English piece of music. I think its the organ, but it evokes for me quiet English country churches with that musty feel of history to them. I'm sure I've seen somewhere Ian talking about being laid to rest in a Wiltshire churchyard. The Defence of Faith bit of course evokes Henry VIII as 'Defender of the Faith' and the Anglican settlement. What I like about this is that I recall what I think was a Rolling Stone review asking why in My God Ian has a pop at the 'bloody Church of England in chains of history'. It often seemed such a soft target (and the Isle of Wight version seemed to indicate he had other targets in mind) and certainly not the Presbyterianism of his youth. It's one of those lines that makes you think Tull are a quintessentially English band - which, of course, is not strictly true. But perhaps this is Ian making a form of musical peace with an old enemy - laying the Anglicanism of Blackpool Grammar School to rest?! Or perhaps this is me making far too much of one song title! I like Divinities, though, but wouldn't compare it with the others, especially as I understand that Andy Giddings had a good deal of input. Almost doubtlessly remembered from David Rees magazine at the time of Divinities release, In Defence of Faiths, alongside the opener, In a Stone Circle and the closer, can't remember but Indian elements in there, are my favorite tracks on the record, the title comes from a direct quote from a speech from Prince Charles, a good one, where he was expounding upon precisely that, the sanctity of all faiths, I am pretty sure it is one of his more well know and kindly regarded speeches. Also I recall the Prince was or is, if not a friend of Ians, friendly enough with him that for some years he would purchase Ians Strathaird salmon for his staff at Christmas, probably also remembered from David Rees' magazine, its not as if much in the way of Tull information was available anywhere else except possibly their tour manuals which prior to the net I would always purchase. Btw maddog, very cool beatnik joke.
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Post by earsoftin on Apr 2, 2010 14:06:06 GMT
'the title comes from a direct quote from a speech from Prince Charles' That's interesting and gives a different twist to it. It was in 1994 that Prince Charles made the original statement that instead of 'Defender of the Faith' (which has been part of the royal oath and associated with Anglicanism since Henry VIII) he wished to be known as 'Defender of Faith s'. This has subsequently been changed to 'Defender of Faith' as at www.princeofwales.gov.uk/faqs/what_religion_do_the_prince_and_the_duchess_practice__1739581824.htmlStill a controversial claim, but as Divinities came out in 1995 I see the connection -- thanks. Tune still evokes Anglicanism to me though! In David Rees' book he notes Tull playing a Prince's Trust concert in 1982 and Prince Charles afterwards saying 'One of the most interesting and intelligent men in the music business'. I hadn't heard about the Strathaird connection, but I guess as both being major farmers in the west of England there are other connections. Pleased to have learned this - part of the fun of this forum!
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tullist
Master Craftsman
Posts: 478
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Post by tullist on Apr 2, 2010 20:01:27 GMT
Yeah man, now that I see that and since I am only going on memory, (although likely I do still have the issue of A New Day squirreled away somewhere, that is almost certainly where I am remembering it from) it is likely that Ian's title is a moderate reworking of the one Prince Charles uses. I seem to recall though that Prince Charles had a speech that went along with it where in he said something like I come to u tonite in defense of faiths, i usually have a good memory for useless minutae from decades earlier like sports stuff, but cannot remember the name of a person I have met several times. Ears of Tin, wonderful Skye tinged song off what I believe is their most under valued album, especially when I see it referred to as boring, or the weak sister of Crest of a Knave, I think Rock Island is very much the superior of Crest which I believe is held back either by songs that are not bad but not particularly Tull, at least on record, like Steel Monkey, are not Tull and are not that good like Said She Was A Dancer, or are amongst the weakest in the catalogue like Raising Steam. Of course whats good on there is very good.
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Post by futureshock on Oct 9, 2010 2:58:00 GMT
Secret Language of Birds clearly #1, but Divinities and Walk Into Light very well done, with Divinities more of a creative adventure, it's almost an anti-Tull audio experience and yet consistently likeable. I never caught on to Rupi but that's just me, it's done well for what it is.
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