Aqualung is one of the most contrasty, profound and complex albums which have Tull ever brought out. Musically they sounded anno 1971 not as mature as later on MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY, yet AQUALUNG is probably their most moving and most informative content disc which is regarded as essential for all music collection. Contrast AQUALUNG is because it is a bipolar plate: Sometimes aggressive, joyful, thoughtful and quiet. From the mood and the musical direction fro AQUALUNG sounds very contrary: Delicate, soulful, acoustic ballads such WONDRING ALOUD or CHEAP DAY RETURN can be found here as well as powerful rock numbers that go neatly into the legs, as there would be: LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, the most famous Tull song ever, HYMMN 43, or CROSS EYED MARY, who was even gecovert of Iron Maiden. The epic, dark and no less pathetic monumental tracks like the title song, the atmospherically extremely dense and varied MY GOD and the plaintive ballad WIND UP form the cornerstones of this masterpiece, which unplugged half, was so taken purely acoustic, the other half, however, with electric guitar, which particularly at theme song, with CROSS EYED MARY, MY GOD, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH and HYMMN 43 is klangdominierend. The acoustic tracks form the balancing counterweight to the heavy rock stompers despite its simplicity. Due to its strong contrasts and its philosophical and socio-critical content AQUALUNG is probably the most emotional and most moving Tull disc. Absolutely indispensable!
