Jethro Tull released their 24th studio album on Friday. It’s a collection of ruminations on life and the human condition, told with Iain Anderson’s characteristic wry humour. What more appropriate title, then, than Curious Ruminant?

The band was formed in 1967. They released one album a year from 1968 through to 1979. They added another five in the eighties, three in the nineties, and a Christmas record in 2003. After a nearly 20 year break, the Tull name was dusted off again for The Zealot Gene (2022) and RökFlöte (2023). Over the whole of the 58-year period of the band’s existence, they have been exploring the space where modern folk and progressive rock overlap. Curious Ruminant continues in the same rich vein.

The lyrics examine some of humanity’s eternal questions:

• Why am I here?
• What should I believe?
• What are we fighting for?
• Am I a good person or no?

And we ponder these things embraced by beautifully crafted, intelligent music and artful compositions.

In some ways, there is nothing new here. You could be forgiven for giving a nonchalant shrug and dismissing the latest release as just another cut from the same sound cloth. But you would be missing the quality of the suit. This Ruminant is every bit as stylish and enjoyable as some of Jethro Tull‘s better known albums. It’s an essential acquisition for Tull collectors, and a classy introduction for anyone who is still unfamiliar with their extensive repertoire.