Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Of all the ways you might expect the art of the Progressive to go, to slip comfortably into the realm of the festive spirit might be the one guess you would never offer to the eternal quizmaster.
It might not be obvious, but if there is one band whose history has circumnavigated almost every genre that can be touched upon with a flute leading the way, then Jethro Tull have every right to surprise and enlighten the audience and the fan alike by immersing their unique observation into an album devoted to the ringing of the bells and the signal to good will to all included.
As part of the expanded music universe that has been unveiled by the band as they rejoice and allow the fan to sing the praises of the steady stream of reissues of albums in box set form, and in The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow At Christmas, the four audio CDs, and single Blue-ray offering is a wonderfully focused idea taken to its natural conclusion, that of presenting a set of songs that insist on hope and arrangement in such a way that the feeling is one uplifting joy; even if the time of year leaves you cold, the sound will most certainly warm the listener up.
Originally released in 2003, this set of new mixes and live recordings that join the initial album is one of peace delivered and in the two gigs captured from St. Bride’s what the listener is able to embrace is a sense of beauty, of nuance in a period of darkness, and whilst the album initially was the last to be released until The Zealot Gene almost 20 years later, the strength of purpose in the live performances of songs such as Living In These Hard Times, Jack In The Green, the choir’s telling passion in Silent Night and Gaudete, the brilliance of placing the ending of Thick As A Brick, Living In The Past, and Aqualung into the proceedings and surrounding the thoughts of the Reverend George Parker, all combine to reason, to open the hearts and minds, and emphasise the serenity of the original recording.
A winter’s mood or a stunning winter’s tale, a fresh take on an album that didn’t necessarily catch the attention of the public initially but in Bruce Soord’s remixing work now will surely see the albums and boxset’s reputations come under a flurry of newfound respect.
Ian D. Hall