Review
Stepping back from electronic gloss and sprawling prog-rock grandeur, this late-nineties entry doubled down on earthy folk-rock roots while sharpening the band's interest in Eastern melodic scales and intimate acoustic arrangements. Rather than chasing turn-of-the-millennium trends hinted at by its tech-conscious title, the material anchored the long-tenured lineup in organic interplay, pairing Ian Anderson's weathered vocal register with nimble flute passages and Martin Barre’s crunchy electric phrasing.
The revised stereo and spatial presentation unknots the original production, lending unexpected punch and separation to Jonathan Noyce’s basslines and Doane Perry’s percussive drive. Tracks like "Spiral" and "Hunt By Numbers" deliver muscular rock heft, while the title cut and "Bends Like A Willow" weave sinuous modal flourishes and warm keyboard textures around crisp acoustic guitars. Reeling in once-obscure session outtakes alongside the core sequence, the expanded edition preserves a transitional chapter that favored steady ensemble craftsmanship and worldly melodic nuance over high-stakes reinvention.
