Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Big Big Train
Label: Self-released
Release: 2016
Runtime: 86:11
Rating: 4.5/5
»From Stone and Steel« is a digital album from British prog-rock revivalists Big Big Train, featuring recordings from their ‘live’ performance at Real World studio in August 2014, which was set up to film the Blu-ray video »Stone and Steel«. The eight-piece lineup, where guitarist/keyboardist Andy Poole and bassist Greg Spawton are the only original members left, while the (still) newcomers are Swedish guitarist (better known as a multi-instrumentalist and singer) Rikard Sjoblom (Beardfish) and violinist Rachel Hall (ex-Stackridge), re-recorded a selection of their best songs, mostly drawn from their last three studio efforts: »The Undefall Yard« (2009), »English Electric Part One« (2012) and »English Electric Part Two« (2013).
These ambitious prog-rock revivalists cultivate a thoroughly traditional English sound, packed with eclectic elements of symphonic prog rock and pastoral folk rock, seasoned with touches of jazz and blues, and of course there’s no shortage of lush orchestral arrangements, which are present in abundance thanks to the guest orchestral section. There’s no point in going on at length about the band’s incredible technical polish, and there are few modern prog bands with such an ear for building melodic harmonies as Big Big Train. But it’s David Longdon’s voice, whose timbre in many ways recalls the legendary Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), that is the key factor that rocketed the current version of Big Big Train to the top of the modern prog-rock scene.
»Fron Stone and Steel« is first and foremost about showing off the strengths of the new lineup, which already made a strong impression on the interesting EP »Wassail« (2015) and can only be talked about in superlatives. Just how good a band Big Big Train have become over the past eight years is clear from the fact that their ranks now include cult American drummer/occasional singer Nick D’Virgilio, who left his ‘home’ band Spock’s Beard to do it, choosing to become an ‘Englishman’ rather than keep living in the long shadow of former member Neal Morse. D’Virgilio’s drum and percussion work is the most praiseworthy it’s been on »From Stone and Steel« since he joined the band.
Most of the performances got an upgrade in their new ‘outfits’ thanks to the extra violin and even more interesting guitar variations, and as a whole they come out even stronger than the originals. Fans of old English folklore will get the most out of the new version of »Master James Of St. George«, while the orchestral-jazz peak is »Summoned By Bells«, which among other things features brass arrangements on trumpet. The other highlights are the twenty-three-minute super-epic »The Underfall Yard« and the no less impressive »Victorian Brickwork«. Longtime followers will be happiest about the rendition of »Wind Distorted Pioneers«, which comes from the debut »Goodbye To The Age Of Steam« (1994).
»From Stone and Steel« is a nice warm-up for the new studio album, due in May 2016 and titled »Folklore«, which means it’ll be another very English-flavored release. First and foremost, »From Stone and Steel« is of course meant for the most devoted fans, since it’s not the best entry point for anyone just discovering this wonderful band, given its heavy focus on the last three albums. There aren’t actually many prog bands today who cultivate such a pastoral, ‘old English’ sound, and that’s exactly what makes Big Big Train stand out from the crowd of similar acts. You can download the album for seven pounds from Big Big Train’s official website (which is why it comes with a totally uninspired cover featuring a photo of David Longdon).
Lineup
Andy Poole – keyboards, guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
Greg Spawton – bass guitar, bass pedals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
David Longdon – lead vocals, mandolin, percussion
Dave Gregory – guitar, piano, backing vocals
Nick D’Virgilio – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Danny Manners – keyboards, double bass, backing vocals
Rikard Sjoblom – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Rachel Hall – violin, backing vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Jon Truscott – tuba
Nick Stones – French horn
Dave Desmond – trombone
Ben Godfrey- trumpet, cornet
Emily Yarrow – backing vocals (4,5)
Production
Big Big Train
Track list
1. The First Rebreather (8:32)
2. Master James Of St George (6:13)
3. Judas Unrepentant (7:16)
4. Uncle Jack (3:48)
5. Wind Distorted Pioneers (4:33)
6. Summoned By Bells (9:28)
7. Kingmaker (10:46)
8. The Underfall Yard (22:52)
9. Victorian Brickwork (12:43)
