What does it sound like?:
The new release from Big Big Train brings together four of their songs about technology and adds a new orchestral piece which links two of them – East Coast Racer and Brooklands.
Recorded at Abbey Road in 2019, The Book of Ingenious Devices itself is a beautiful short orchestral introduction to Brooklands. The 17-piece string section combine perfectly with the band to give the track more presence, more power than the original version on their Folklore Album. Nick D’Virgilio has added new drums and Greg Spawton has recorded new bass guitar and bass pedals to the original track. This version certainly sets the story in a brighter light and raises the impact of the speed and passion which John Cobb felt as he roared around the banks of the old track. The strings really come into their own on the middle instrumental section, beneath Dave Gregory’s blistering guitar and driven by NDV’s incredible drums.
Voyager was always one of my favourite BBT songs and the changes here are only subtle tweaks. The strings however bring a new perspective and combine with the BBT Brass Section for a lush, rich sound, especially on the closing section, which is now mighty.
A live version of the song Atlantic Cable is included as it introduces Alberto Bravin, the new singer in the band. Recorded last year, at just his second gig, (I was there!) it is brilliant and brave – a complicated song, tough to play live, which the Italian handles with consummate ease. It also demonstrates what a muscular, rockier band they are, live. As a taster for this September’s tour, it whets the appetite perfectly.
Which just leaves East Coast Racer. It is the opener here, but I have left the best to last, deliberately.
For many fans, the song is hallowed ground, the definitive expression of what Big Big Train is about. This is amplified when the song is played live where it takes on a life of its own and has been known to reduce grown men and women to tears of joy.
Well, Passengers, prepare to have your socks blown clean off.
To start with, the song benefits from having been played live a good few times. This is the 2019 version of the band, with David Longdon, Rachel Hall, Danny Manners and Dave Gregory in place, and everyone is comfortable with their place within the song. D’Virgilio drives the Train like a man possessed and, as the track builds, the thundering power of this band is blazingly apparent. The strings come into their own as the speed builds and the Brass Boys add to the sheer daredevil bravery of what is being sung by David Longdon. Then, joyfully, we get Dave Gregory’s blistering guitar-solo, something which was missing from the original studio version and only came to the fore in live versions. As Greg says on the band’s website,
“I was always happy with the original recorded version of East Coast Racer, but adding the strings at Abbey Road gave the song a further lift and the new recording also features Dave Gregory’s guitar solo on the closing section, a solo which has only previously featured on live performances of the song. I am pleased we now have the definitive studio version on Ingenious Devices.”
When David sings those definitive words, “She flies…”, for all sorts of reasons, my heart leapt out of my chest.
What does it all *mean*?
The journey continues.
Goes well with…
The upcoming summer tour of Europe and Scandinavia,
Release Date:
30th June 2023
Might suit people who like…
Prog.
fitterstoke says
Many thanks for the review – purchase is a given, of course
Baron Harkonnen says
A wonderful review Niall, thank you. It wets my appetite for this release which is on pre-order of course.
Neil Jung says
I inherited copies of Grimspound and Folklore recently when a good friend passed away. I quite like them but not as much as I think I should as a fan of classic 70s prog. However I really liked the song I heard by the new singer and this sounds like a must purchase.