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Review:
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On Big Big Train their latest album The Difference Machine
from 2007 I noticed a stunning progress in comparison with
their previous effort Gathering Speed from 2004. So did
this excellent UK band succeed to al least keep the high
level?***
Yes, Big Big train has succeeded ‘cum laude’ because
on the new album entitled The Underfall Yard not only sounds
as a logical successor of The Difference Machine but it’s
also an awesome album. A very strong element in their music
is guest drummer Nick D’Virgilio, what a touch of class
and he also contributes on vocals in a very pleasant way
on the highlight the concluding title track (featuring guest
Francis Dunnery on guitar). Here we can enjoy Big Big Train
in its full splendour, more than 20 minutes it’s 24-carat
symphonic rock delivering lots of captivating shifting moods
and a very tasteful colouring with a wide range of instruments,
from slide guitar, cello and choir-Mellotron to fiery electric
guitar, Hammond organ and a slow synthesizer solo, this
is Prog Heaven! The other five compositions also contain
a lot of variety and great atmospheres (often reminding
me of 70-77 Genesis along some Yes and Pink Floyd). Remarkably
is the varied use of brass – and woodwind instruments, from
cornet and trombone to the French horn and tuba. But don’t
be afraid that these instruments dominate if you don’t like
cornet or tuba (like me) because due to Big Big Train their
excellent compositional skills there is a fine balance with
the other instruments like the guitar, keyboards and drums.
This leads to very interesting combinations like the violin-Mellotron
with a sitar or with a French horn and trombone (both in
the opener Evening Star) or a choir-Mellotron as support
of a cornet solo (in the long and alternating Victorian
Brickwork). ***
Finally I would like to mention that I am delighted
about multi-instrumentalist David Longdon his vocals, often
evoking Peter Gabriel to me. But that is also due to their
use of the Mellotron, twanging guitars and flute, I have
no problem that Big Big Train plays in the great tradition
of 70-77 Genesis, not at all!
Erik
Neuteboom
Progwalhalla.nl
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