What does it sound like?:
A new live album and blu-ray release from Britain’s premier prog band, Big Big Train, ‘hits the shelves’ just in time for their Autumn tour of the U.K and Europe.
The recordings are from the two triumphant nights at London’s Cadogan Hall at the end of their 17-date, The Journey Continues Tour, of last year.
I was able to take in seven dates of the tour, travelling to Basel, through Zurich to Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London. After every show various band-members looked out for me, making sure that I had travelled well, eaten properly, etc; it’s that kind of band.
The one thing you know with any Big Big Train release is that the sound will be immaculate. Their producer, Rob Aubrey, is also their live sound-engineer and he’ll have mixed these recordings to within an inch of their lives. So, yes, it is as good a sounding live album as you are ever likely to hear; no mean feat when there are up to eleven musicians on stage at any one time.
The band had varied the set-list on most dates and the idea for the two nights in London was to play all of the songs they had played; so what you get here is the full second-night set plus seven songs from the first night.
For many fans, the revelation of the tour was Italian guitarist, Maria Barbieri, who was playing ‘super-sub’ for band-member, Dave Foster, whilst his other commitments kept him away from the tour. As can be heard here, Maria has a wonderful tone and lightness of touch; on the nights when they played Curator of Butterflies, her solo reduced me to tears, every night. She is a rare talent. It was wonderful to see her reaction to being ‘mobbed’ by fans after these shows; I think she was quite overwhelmed.
So, what do you get? Well, it’s 3 hours, 17 songs plus an acoustic medley in memory of the band’s late singer, David Longdon. You get big-hitters like East Coast Racer, Hedgerow and Victorian Brickwork, deep cuts like Summoned by Bells, A Boy In Darkness and Judas Unrepentant as well as new favourites, Oblivion and Love Is the Light. You get brilliant musicianship, impeccable sound, immaculate vocals from Alberto Bravin and pinpoint harmonies from the four other singers in the band; oh, and you get Big Big Train’s fantastic Brass Ensemble, their USP, the sound which sets them apart from everyone else.
Bravin is a wonderful addition to the band; an enthusiastic front-man, a great singer and someone who has immediately immersed himself in the band’s ethos and camaraderie. His predecessor would be very proud of the way the Italian has taken up the baton and run with it; quite literally at one point as he jumps off the stage and runs around the hall in (unrehearsed,) excitement at the sheer force of the music being played. It’s a wonderful moment; the kind of thing which has endeared him to the fans so quickly.
For new fans of Big Big Train this package will be a great introduction to the band’s extensive history as well as an indicator of their power as a live act. To The Passengers, the band’s unique bunch of reprobates, soaks and ne’er-do-wells*, this will be a great addition to their collections and an affirmation that ‘their band’ is still the best around.
*It’s okay; I am one of them, know many of them personally and have the photos to prove it. They are the friendliest bunch of people you are ever likely to meet.
10/10 ***** 5/5 (whichever marking system you’re using.)
What does it all *mean*?
It means that the journey of this wonderful band continues, even after tragedy, terrible luck and personnel change.
Goes well with…
A good pair of ears.
Release Date:
13th September 2024
Might suit people who like…
Powerful, melodic and moving music.
Great stuff, Niall. I will buy this on release. I’m a relative newbie to BBT but I think they lost someone absolutely unique when they lost David Longdon. Alberto Bravin seems to fit well with the other members and is doing very well so far, from what I can tell. As well as liking this band and their obvious love for making the best music they can, I truly enjoy your delight in championing them on each release. Keep it up…
‘Goes well with…A good pair of ears.’ Well, clearly I don’t possess such a pair because I saw them at Cropredy and they really didn’t engage me in the slightest! Very often I can listen to a band and understand their appeal even if they aren’t for me, but I was left totally nonplussed by them. This isn’t to diss your excellently written review @niallb and I’m delighted by your enthusiasm and fandom, and I was looking forward to hearing them after knowing that they were well loved and regarded, but I simply didn’t get them!
From descriptions here, I thought they would be my cup of tea, but I can’t warm to them. True, my BBT collection consists of just one live album, and I think that particular performance might be the problem.
Live, the brass section sounds a bit overpowering to me, and I prefer prog where the guitars, keys, etc., have a bit more room to breathe.
Clearly they have their fans, and niallb’s review is very informative. I wonder if their studio albums are more of a way in to their particular magic.
Try the new one, The Likes of Us; it’s their best studio album for a good while.
Enjoyed reading it, but am afraid I am with @NigelT although I should maybe try harder.
Nice they asked if you had eaten properly, think last time that happened to me was my mother when I was 18 and had just left home!
I’ll be buying this. Absolutely the best of the new progressive bands – I’ve been listening to them since they first started, and I’ve enjoyed every album. But I’ve never seen them live – so the live dvds etc are always very welcome.
Go Niall!
🙏
Hi @niallb, you lucky beggar! I’ve been on board since the Age Of Steam, and have been looking forward to hearing this release for a while. I won’t be paying £25 for a version with a DVD included, though. I hope it gets a simple CD release for those of us who only need that!
@Vulpes-Vulpes, thank you, my friend. I can’t find a ‘CD Only’ release on Burning Shed I’m afraid. You can get a vinyl version without the Blu-ray but it’s even more expensive than the CD+ version.
There’s no CD only set available alas – the 3cds plus bluray is the only option other than the vinyl.
Still quite keen then Niall? As a 68 year old prog lover I should love them and saw them a few years ago in Basingstoke and wasn’t overwhelmed. Since then I’ve acquired a few albums and still don’t see what all the fuss is about but am going all the way to sunny Swindon to see them.
I’m still sad from the loss of David, but Alberto makes the job a different one. There’s a lot of warmth and affection here. Perhaps not for everyone.