What does it sound like?:
Common Ground, the new album by Big Big Train, will win Album of the Year at The Prog Awards, (Frost*’s Day & Age will be a close second,) and should be a contender for that title at The Classic Rock Awards too. Yes, it is that good, and I am that confident. It is their best since 2012’s English Electric (Pts 1&2), despite the 4 albums since then all being of the highest quality.
The album starts with three (sit down, BBT fans, in case you fall down with shock,) up tempo songs. The Strangest Times will be a terrific show-opener, and is singer David Longdon’s take on what we have all been going through since March 2020. This is followed by a Nick d’Virgilio song, All The Love We Can Give. The song works perfectly, has a huge chorus and will be a big live hit, I’m sure. The third ‘rocker’ is Greg Spawton’s Black With Ink, a more familiar narrative for regular listeners, as it delves into the city of Alexandria, during Roman times. This will be another live favourite which features Nick, Rikard, and new live member, Carly Bryant on alternate verses, with David leading the choruses.
Dandelion Clock is a beautiful Greg Spawton song about the passing of time and then there are two wonderful instrumentals. Rikard’s piano piece, Headwaters, leads into Apollo, NDV’s “quintissential prog instrumental”, as he puts it. It steams along at a rate of knots, features all of the band, (and their three new live members,) on sparkling form, before slowing to a coda featuring the band’s celebrated brass section. Another live workout which fans will love.
The album’s title track, David Longdon’s Common Ground, is an unapologetic love song and reflects what has been going on in his life. To my ear, there is also a hint of nostalgia for the three members who alighted from the train, since the end of 2019, but also excitement about what lies ahead, both personally, and for the band. And then, fellow Passengers, comes Greg’s fifteen minute epic, Atlantic Cable, the story of laying the 3,000 mile telegraph cable, completed in 1866. In terms of those wonderful, history-based BBT songs, it is right up there with the very best, bass pedals and all.
The album ends, appropriately, and achingly, with Endnotes, a beautiful song which builds to a brass-crescendo, (Passengers, think of the live version of 2009’s Victorian Brickwork.)
This album continues their progression, in a new and exciting direction, one which will thrill their hardcore fans, but will also delight new ones, new ones who will climb aboard and discover that the journey has a rich past and a wondrous future.
All aboard!
What does it all *mean*?
Afterworders will know how much BBT means to me. Since Beany posted a video here, in 2013, I have fallen, head over heels, in love with them, and their music. At my age, I thought I would never feel about music the way I did when I was 16, ever again. BBT made that happen, and continue to do so. They have a very loyal fan-base, (the band’s FB page is an oasis of polite calm) and they are important, to so many people. They make the hairs on my neck stand up and I have cried proper tears at their gigs. The really matter to me.
Goes well with…
All of their previous albums.
Release Date:
30th July 2021
Might suit people who like…
XTC, Rush, Spock’s Beard, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Atlantis, Boston, Asia, Yes, Genesis, Kate Bush, Toto,
A very alluring review @niallb but am afraid they leave me a bit cold. I have the Full English album bought due to the enthusiastic comments on here but I just couldnt get it. Excellent musicianship but the vocals were just bland – suppose we cant love the sme stuff all the time. The instrumentals sound good though.
Worthy but dull was my response, I fear, too, never quite equalling the sum of the parts. But I wonder if that is down to the sterility of just audio. So, swayed by the undoubted enthusiasm of so many, I will let them convince me on their tour, for which I have a ticket. Don’t mean to be snarky, as I ‘want’ to like them…..
You’re right – life would be boring if we all liked the same things. I wouldn’t have you down as a BBT fan, @SteveT. I think you need a background in 70’s Prog as a starting point.
@niallb funnily enough I was very big into 70’s prog – Genesis, Gentle Giant, Camel and Yes being my favourites. I just bought the Greenslade boxset which bought back happy memories.
I don’t know what it is about BBT – something doesn’t quite connect. It is not the genre – I love the recent Steve Hackett albums for example.
Ah, okay. We shall discuss. You & retropath2 sort out a meet and I’ll be there. The Symphony Hall gig is a Friday and I’m coming up on the train and staying at The Crowne Plaza. Then it’s the train to Bath, to meet up with Jan, for the Saturday gig.
I feel the same about Porcupine Tree (apart from the Moonloop EP.) Just doesn’t quite work. See also Radiohead.
Well, I might see you on the road, @retropath2. I’m doing all 7 dates.
I was fishing for that response. I’ll buy you a Guinness, be good to meet for real!
If there is Guinness on offer I might be there in that case – @niallb fancy a meet up and a proper Balti?
Meet in the Post Office Vaults or the Welly?
Sounds good to me – will get a ticket because like you I want to like them and a live show might do the trick.
Great review @niallb and I’m looking forward to this at the end of the month (have on pre order). I must admit though the first couple of tracks they have previewed didn’t immediately hit home, although they have grown on me since. So your positive review (and the promise of a 15 min epic) have got me all excited.
It was actually you that put me onto BBT with one of your posts many years ago. I bought English Electric on the strength of that and the rest is history, as they say. So, many thanks for that.
I may even have contributed to the album cover art with one of the translations – the Chinese one (courtesy of my wife, not me). Not looked at a high enough resolution image yet to check it out though……
It took me several listens @Chrisf. I’ve had the review copy for 6 weeks, and it’s only in the last 2 or 3 weeks that it has really hit home.
Right, I’m going in. English Electric streaming now. I’ve looked at some live clips after reading previous panegyrics and been a bit baffled so in a reverse of Retro’s approach I’ll try a recommended studio album.
I enjoyed your review @niallb. I’ve not listened to any of the 3 preview tracks, I prefer to listen to the album as a whole entity which of course I have ordered.
I have read a couple of other positive reviews on’t net. The songwriting seems to be shared out a bit more which IMHO is a good thing.
Looking forward to seeing the band live, it’s been a long time.
I’m another one of those who really want to love BBT but struggle with them and I’m not sure why. Great musicianship and I love the very English feel that seeps through their songs but in the the main they leave me a bit cold. There one or two tracks on the early releases that I really enjoyed but little since. I always give the new one a try though and listened earlier to the 3 tracks on Spotty. I am a child of the golden Prog years so do appreciate the style of music. The only new Prog band that I really rate are Abel Ganz who for me have that bit of something special beyond the expected strong musicianship. I will continue to sample the Train though as each new one comes into the station.
That’s the spirit. I love Abel Ganz too.
Any relation to the Downfall Hitmaker?
I’m also in the I should love them but strangely don’t camp. I went to see them at the Basingstoke Anvil and whilst it was OK I was not converted. I didn’t think much of the singer. I’ve played most of the albums that friends have sent me, but apart from East Coast Racer I’m really not bothered. Maybe I’ll give it a listen on Spotify.