A Passion Play

This review is for the new Steven Wilson remixed version of Tull's "A Passion Play." If you're a fan of the album to begin with, this edition trumps all previous CD releases/remasters etc. Wilson has become the go-to guy for remixing classic prog albums, and he does a fantastic job here. Does it sound different from the original mix? Yes, in places. Overall, it all sounds much better; he's tweaked dynamics here and there. The album really comes alive, especially on the DVD mixes. He's also remixed the 1972 so-called "Chateau D'Isaster Tapes," a portion of which first appeared on the "20 Years of Jethro Tull" box set (three tracks) and later on "Nightcap" (the three tracks plus what we thought was all of it). But there was more, around 10 minutes' worth! "The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes," for those of you unfamiliar with them, consist of tracks that Jethro Tull laid down after the release of "Thick as a Brick" in 1972, intended to be for the next album. The accompanying booklet goes into great detail about the recording of these tracks and subsequent abandonment. In short, Tull scrapped the recordings, went back into the studio, and created "A Passion Play" instead. There are motifs and bits from the Chateau recordings that made their way into "PP," as well as two tracks that made it onto "WarChild." When I heard the Chateau tapes on the "Nightcap" album, I was impressed and really liked comparing the genesis of "PP" with the final product. Now, with Wilson's remix, they sound better than ever. The tracks are re-sequenced, and, with the added 10 minutes we've never heard before, it really comes off as a complete, somewhat "new" Jethro Tull album from their most proggy period (1972-1973)! (The new remix is nearly 60 minutes long!) As for "Passion Play," I've always been a fan of the album. It's probably the most controversial Tull recording; it divided fans and the critics pretty much scoured it. Still, it reached #1 in the USA. It is a prog-rock concept album deluxe, released at a time when prog rock was still in vogue. It's easily Tull's most complex, intricate, obtuse, surreal, and literary work. Like "Thick as a Brick," it's one long piece interrupted by the Monty Python-esque "Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles (sniff)". For me it's one of Tull's better albums, certainly in the top ten. I can understand its detractors, for it does slip into pomposity in places, but, hey, that's what prog rock was all about in 1972-75 ("Tales from Topographic Oceans" anyone?). This deluxe package comes with two CDs and two DVDs, one of which contains remastered video of the "Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" as well as the never-before released Opening and Closing videos used in the 1973 Passion Play tour. The booklet is terrific, which plenty of contemporary photos from the tour, several different essays, interviews, tour schedule, and lyrics (to PP *and* Chateau recordings). If you're a serious Tull fan, this is an essential purchase.

To be honest, 'Passion Play' was perhaps my least favorite of the 1970's Tull albums. But this handsome deluxe box set - at a great price, giving real value for your money - made me appreciate the concept tremendous. Two things added to this; the fact that the music was separated into fifteen discrete sections and a wonderful remix by Steven Wilson. What sealed the deal for me, however, was the inclusion of nearly all the 'Château d'Hérouville Sessions' in a vastly improved mix and in proper sequencing. This suddenly becomes Jethro Tull heaven! The easiest way to see the difference between the 2000 release of the aborted 1973 album and the 2014 version is that it is no longer referred to as the 'Chateau D'Isaster Tapes'. The material now has the digital reverb stripped off, returning it to a classic Tull sound, and no unnecessary editing was done. Here we have the true Holy Grail of Jethro Tull, an unreleased major work by one of the most important bands on the planet at that moment. It sounds fantastic, and it still is IMHO better than the resultant 'Passion Play' album. But the 'Passion Play' album itself is improved. The remixing tends to downplay the relentless sax playing and synth work, two elements that always seemed foreign to the classic Tull sound. Plus you can compare the unreleased three album sides of discarded work and see how parts were reworked into the new conceptual piece, not to mentioned how some was recycled on the next album, 'War Child'. So a new context is in place for the listener to enjoy the work. Overall, well done Ian and Steven!!! This is the gold standard for deluxe box sets and everything that a Jethro Tull fan could ask for, including a full two discs of 5.1 material as well as the video to 'The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles' - classic!

Ein Klassiker

2014年7月に発売されたDVD Video盤のレビューです。 ●DVD Video盤収録音源 1：LPCM 96/24 Stereo 2：DTS 96/24 5.1 Surround 3：Dolby AC3 5.1 Surround DISC1には『A Passion Play』本編、DISC2には『The Chateau D’herouville Sessions』'72年お蔵入り音源'Chateau d'Isaster Tapes'（フランス：エルヴィユ城でのセッション音源）が収録されています。5.1chサラウンドのRemixはかの御大Steven Wilson先生の手による物で出来は抜群でお墨付きです。音の広がり方、音の分離、各パート楽器がクリアーに聞こえ中々良い出来です。 内容的には難解だと言う方もいらっしゃいますが私はそうは思わず、前作同様アルバム収録1曲の緻密に練り上げられた音楽構成（キリストの受難劇をコンセプト）で所々に心地良いフレーズがありとても馴染みやすく完成度が高いと思います。バレリーナが横たわっているジャケットデザインも秀逸です。メディアがLP盤からCD盤に変わった事でこういったアルバムジャケットのアート性を楽しむ事が少なくなってきているのも残念です。蛇足ですが再生画面にアルバムジャケット同様バレリーナが横たわっている姿が表示されますが両手が微妙に動いてるのを発見しプチ喜びしました。（どうでも良い事ですが。：笑）これは通常再生画面では注意深く観察して見ないと認識出来きないレベルで、早送り画面ではっきりと認識出来ます。

Ótimo álbum do Jethro Tull !

Album forse più controverso dei Tull (amatissimo però dai fans più appassionati), A PASSION PLAY trova in questa deluxe edition con ogni probabilità la sua versione definitiva. Il rimissaggio di Steven Wilson è infatti accuratissimo, donando una luce, una pulizia, una leggibilità mirabili. Come in ogni rilettura del leader dei Porcupine Tree l'attenzione è infatti volta - programmaticamente - al mantenimento della timbrica e delle sonorità originarie, così tipicamente anni '70, e per gli appassionati questa è una vera delizia; semplicemente, l'opera non ha mai nemmeno lontanamente suonato così bene. Musicalmente è un lavoro non facile, specialmente per chi non abbia vissuto quella irripetibile stagione, ma la musicalità di questa versione indubbiamente giova molto al suo approccio. Strumenti, intrecci musicali complessi, equilibrio sonoro (nessuna traccia ovviamente di compressione del suono) sono ora mirabili e straordinariamente leggibili, con un risultato del tutto a livello del già spettacolare recupero di AQUALUNG. Non solo: nel ripassare certosinamente i nastri, Wilson ha trovato un intero passaggio (circa 50 secondi) inspiegabilmente tagliato nel montaggio originario: lo stesso Ian Anderson aveva del tutto scordato questo dettaglio, naturalmente senza avere idea del perché fosse stato alla fine omesso; da solo questo dettaglio vale l'acquisto per qualsiasi tulliano. E questa è solo la metà della meraviglia. Il secondo cd presenta infatti la rilettura delle incisioni del Castello d'Herouville, e qui l'interesse se possibile è ancora maggiore. Non solo infatti i brani sono presentati nell'ordine originariamente inteso, completamente diverso da quello presente in NIGHTCAP, ma le incisioni stesse sono state ripulite da tutte le sovraincisioni operate da Anderson agli inizi degli anni '90, reintegrando al tempo stesso quanto era stato omesso. Una vera operazione di filologia musicale, anche in questo caso prestando la massima cura nel mantenimento e nella riproduzione delle sonorità originarie. Si scopre così che tecnicamente non sono poi quelle incisioni così terribili come da sempre affermato da Anderson. Certo, il lavoro risulta ancora un po' grezzo, si sente che venne lasciato a metà senza essere rifinito - le ragioni dell'avversità per quell'esperienza sono ampiamente narrate nel bellissimo libretto accluso - e soprattutto si nota una scrittura dei brani almeno un paio di gradini al di sotto di quella che fu poi l'opera pubblicata l'anno successivo. Ma dal punto di vista storico, e non solo, per gli appassionati si tratta di un lavoro di enorme interesse, che finalmente trova la sua veste completa e definitiva. Bellissimo poi sia il package (del tutto identico a quello di THICK AS A BRICK) che - come detto - il libro che correda il tutto: ricchissimo di contributi critici, informazioni tecniche, memorie dei protagonisti e note (particolamente illuminanti le note di Steven Wilson, da leggere assolutamente). Un magistrale esempio di come deve esser fatta una riedizione di un classico.

I returned this as I was given a copy before I got a chance to cancel it. However the price was higher than I saw on other Amazon sites, which is strange it's the same company and almost 30 dollars more, so even if I had not been given the copy I would have returned it due to the price. As for the discs themselves this is a stunning set of music. A Passion Play has long been my favourite Tull album and The Chateau recordings are up to the same quality if not better in some respects. Therefore having a stereo CD of each and the 5.1 DVD as well makes this a fabulous listen and with 2 surround sound systems wired together it is an amazing experience. For Tull fans young and old - do not miss this and it does sell through Amazon as low as 23 dollars, so shop wisely; Thanks for the heads up DC.