Opeth recently unveiled their new album, The Last Will and Testamentwhich benefits from a special collaboration: Ian Anderson, the legendary singer and flautist of Jethro Tull, lends his voice and his flute.
An unprecedented meeting between two icons
In §4a piece of more than seven minutes, Anderson surprises with a flute solo and spoken voice passages. However, this collaboration was not planned as such, explains Mikael Åkerfeldt, leader of Opeth, to Prog magazine: “I asked him to do a narration, not the flute. But in the middle of recording, he asked me: 'Do you want a flute solo?' I said, 'Yes, of course!' even though I didn't have a game planned for it. He improvised a solo like a musical dialogue, and it was perfect.”
The Swedish singer adds that §4 is an unusual piece, written instinctively: “I'm not a genius when it comes to composing. We are sometimes called 'Metal for intellectuals', but I find that ridiculous. I draw inspiration from so many different genres that I can’t lock myself into just one.”
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An iconic collaboration
Ian Anderson is not the only iconic figure to appear on this album. Joey Tempest, singer of Europe, is also among the guests. For Åkerfeldt, the choice of collaborators is made solely on their ability to enrich the Music: “I wouldn’t bring in guests if I didn’t think they could bring something that I couldn’t.”
As for his collaboration with Anderson, Åkerfeldt does not hide his admiration: “I cried listening to Jethro Tull. Ian has given me so much joy over the years, it's incredible. To be able to associate your name with that of Opeth is an honor.”
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