After the pairs of songs about the separate Geralds ("Divergence") comes a "Convergence" sequence, introduced by a sweetly atmospheric instrumental introduction in which the flute floats us into a peaceful sky. "A new dawn glimmers. Time for a change of horses … No more empty towers of this unholy Babylon/Some four hundred thousand hours have come and gone/I smell, in the air, a new meadow morning."
It has indeed been a long time coming, this album. But put aside your worries about weak sequels and ineffective revisits to past glories; TAAB 2 is superb. Complex melodies and juggled time signatures sit comfortably with Anderson's flute and his band's precision musicianship. The DVD footage gives a glimpse into how difficult this music was to get down, but the result, for fans of TAAB-era Tull, will feel like slipping on a comfortable pair of old but freshly shined shoes.
The DVD also includes a sequence with Anderson reciting the lyrics in a variety of settings. It's a bit goofy, but made this old Tull fan smile nonetheless.
For a review with more historical background, see my colleague Wesley Britton's excellent write-up in these pages.
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