"The first solo album from
Jethro Tull's legendary guitarist," reads a back cover note, but that isn't true.
Stage Left is actually
Martin Barre's third album made up primarily of guitar-driven rock instrumentals, following
Trick of Memory (1994) and
The Meeting (1996). But it is the first of his albums to earn release in the U.S.
Barre's sound will be familiar to anyone who's been listening to his playing with
Jethro Tull since he joined the group in 1969. He takes a highly textured approach, playing electric rock guitar much of the time as if he was playing English folk music on an acoustic. Sometimes, of course, he is actually playing an acoustic, and then the music is steeped in tradition while also having rock trappings. Yet
Barre is anything but a typical rock guitar god. He has no real interest in soloing. When he does go for a heavy rock tune such as on "Murphy's Law," the melody, while often tricky and complicated, is logical and strictly followed.
Barre's playing is always elegant, even when he's rocking hard, and always sounds like it's been worked out far in advance. Employing
Jethro Tull members
Jonathan Noyce and
Andy Giddings, along with Darren Mooney on drums and, on the final track, "Don't Say a Word," Simon Burrett on vocals,
Barre often recalls the sound of
Jethro Tull, especially when he throws in some of his own flute playing. His music defeats the notion that the band is simply a vehicle for leader
Ian Anderson, but on the other hand it can sometimes feel incomplete because one is used to hearing it married to
Anderson's voice and lyrics.