Sky Diving Lirics

The Music of Big Big Train

A Beginner's Guide

Big Big Train is a progressive rock band which has been described as 'one of the great, unsung bands of British prog' (Sonic Bond) and which 'continues to plough its own considerable furrow without the aid of label support' (Guitar and Bass).This article is a guide to the music of Big Big Train written by one of the band members, Gregory Spawton. It is aimed at those who don't yet own any BBT CD's but who want to know a bit more about what each of the band's six albums (and earlier demo releases) may have to offer.

This article is a brief introduction to the music of Big Big Train as released on their CD's; it is not a history of the band. If you would like to read about the band's history or want more detailed information see this article or Wikipedia. The Summit: Big Big Train at their best: The Underfall Yard (2009)Far Skies Deep Time EP (2010) The Difference Machine (2007) English Boy Wonders (2008 re-release)
The Underfall Yard

The Underfall Yard is a collection of songs which tell stories, some old and some new. There are tales of the great Victorian engineers who tunnelled through England's chalkhills, elegies for coastal villages lost to the sea on storm-filled nights; there are songs about the grand architect of castles and the man who saved a great cathedral from collapse by diving under its flooded foundations.

The Underfall Yard is the first Big Big Train album to feature David Longdon on vocals. He makes a significant impact on his debut. Nick D'Virgilio joins the band on drums for the whole album and there are stellar performances from Dave Gregory (XTC), Jem Godfrey (Frost*) and Francis Dunnery (It Bites).

Big Big Train hope that The Underfall Yard will be favourably compared with the best albums of the classic prog period by Genesis, PFM, King Crimson and Yes. On The Underfall Yard, Big Big Train are also influenced by alternative artists such as Mew, Sigur Ros, The Cure and Oceansize and draw inspiration from English folk and pop music including bands like XTC, The Beatles and Prefab Sprout.

The Underfall Yard was released on 15th December 2009. The 23 minute title track was named as Classic Rock magazine's track of the day in November 2009. Key songs: The Underfall Yard, Victorian Brickwork, Winchester Diver, Last Train Critical acclaim:

'Six albums in, and Bournemouth's Big Big Train just keep getting better and better. With the usual array of star guests (from Spock's Beard, It Bites, Frost* etc.) and featuring new singer David Longdon, this is an Anglo-prog masterclass. Packed full of tall tales and deep laments, the brilliantly melancholic Victorian Brickwork is a standout.' Geoff Barton, Classic Rock

Enlisting their usual cast of prog luminaries - this time around we get Spock's Beard's Nick D'Virgilio, Frost*'s Jem Godfrey and Francis Dunnery amongst others - Big Big Train mine a rich and rewarding seam through the heart of an England gone by, conjuring up wistful tales that spring to life thanks to the boundless musicianship and Longdon's emotive delivery. Everything builds superbly to the majestic, epic title-track, a truly progressive tour-de-force that will take your breath away as it travels its course, unravelling scenes of time past in your mind's eye. Better still, it maintains its sense of melody and structure through its entire 23 minutes, making The Underfall Yard Big Big Train's finest album to date. Jerry Ewing, Classic Rock Presents Progin

'I haven't been to England in years -- unless, that is, you count the trips I've taken recently while driving through California's Central Coast listening to Big Big Train's magnificent new album The Underfall Yard. Simply the most exciting and affecting prog band working today, Big Big Train managed to top 2007's tremendous The Difference Machine with this magnificent disc, full of epic tales of loss and redemption, decorated with guest shots from luminaries like Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard), Jem Godfrey (Frost*), Francis Dunnery (It Bites) and Dave Gregory (XTC), and featuring stellar work by the core lineup of Greg Spawton (songwriting/guitars/keys), Andy Poole (production/bass) and newcomer David Longdon (vocals/flute).'Rated: A and the Daily Vault's Independent Album of the Year. Jason Warburg Daily Vault

'Big Big Train's latest release - the British outfit's sixth since 1994 - would fit neatly between A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering on any proghead's playlist. Most tracks hit the nexus of solid songcraft, inspired vocals, intricate acoustic fretwork and classical keyboard lines that defined Genesis in the years immediately following Peter Gabriel's departure. The 23-minute title track showcases this assemblages impressive talents, recalling the epic sweep and grandeur of Supper's Ready. In short, The Underfall Yard delivers the kind of music Phil Collins and Co. might have made had they remained true to their prog roots.' Score 16 out of 16 Nick Tate, Progression

Big Big Train use some instruments you very rarely hear on progressive rock albums like French horn, cello, trombone, tuba and cornet. These somehow curious instruments give the music of BBT a new dimension. Sometimes it seems as if a brass band plays along with the band, but it fits the music very well. What I like most on this album are the influences of early Yes and Genesis. The Mellotron is partly responsible for this retro sound. The guitar and bass parts sound as a treat for everyone who likes the way Steve Howe and Chris Squire play their instruments. The additional solos played by Jem Godfrey (Frost*) and Francis Dunnery (ex-It Bites) on synthesizer and electric guitar lift the music to a higher lever, but even without their contribution, this album would still be one of the musical highlights of 2009.' Henri Strik Background Magazine

This really is a monster of an album. Music, lyrics and the beautiful artwork of Jim Trainer fit together perfectly making The Underfall Yard IMHO by far the best album released this year. The songs are very strong, the musicianship is excellent and the lyrics are beautiful. I would not be surprised at all if in, let's say, ten years from now The Underfall Yard is considered to be one of the classic albums in prog's history. It's an absolute masterpiece.' Score 10 out of 10 Leo Koperdraat, Dutch Progressive Rock Pages

To my ears, Big Big Train has released something that challenges my favourite release (Astra's The Weirding) for prog album of the year. If you're a fan of mid seventies Genesis, and appreciate the more symphonic side of neo Prog where virtuoso instrumentation is present, but never usurping sweet melody and excellent song craftsmanship, then this album is for you.' Progressive World

Time will tell if The Underfall Yard remains in my unofficial top 10 albums of all time list. For now, I can't help myself thinking of the best songs on A Trick of the Tail ("Entangled", "Mad Man Moon"...) when I listen to this CD. Certainly my best album of 2009, and there has been many good ones (Porcupine Tree, Steve Hackett, IQ...). My highest recommendation indeed.' Prognosis

With this album, Big Big Train album have made it into the big league of progressive rock. The "Underfall Yard" is undoubtedly one of the best albums of its kind in 2009.' Music in Belgium

Big Big Train are the new star in the sky.' Baby Blaue

Far Skies Deep Time (EP)

A companion release to The Underfall Yard. Featuring five previously unreleased songs, including Fat Billy Shouts Mine (a song from The Underfall Yard sessions which wasn't completed in time to be considered for the album) and the 17 minute The Wide Open Sea. A later version of the EP includes Kingmaker instead of the cover version of the Anthony Phillips song, Master of Time.

Key songs: The Wide Open Sea, British Racing Green, Master of Time, Kingmaker

Critical acclaim:

' The sheer craftsmanship that has gone into every aspect of Far Skies Deep Time is to be savoured. Aside from the splendid musicianship and distinctive artwork, the thoughtful and cliche-free lyrics merit close attention. In short this is one of the prog year's indubitable highlights from a band that seems to go from strength to strength.'

Nick Shilton, Classic Rock Presents Prog

Mature songwriting. Bold musicianship. Hook-laden melodic prog that soars and stirs. It's all here, masterfully conceived and executed. The work opens with an expansive upgrade of Anthony Phillips' 'Master of Time'' followed by Fat Billy Shouts Mine', an elegiac story-song about a British soccer legend, and two anti-love songs. But Train saves the best for last with 'Wide Open Sea.' a majestic epic showcasing the talents of this crew and a stunning tour-de-force from Longdon. Score: 16 out of 16. Nick Tate, Progression Magazine

The Difference Machine

This 2007 release is the band's best selling album. It consists of three epic songs, three short linking instrumental tracks and a final, elegiac piece, Summer's Lease. The Difference Machine features performances from Nick D'Virgilio, Pete Trewavas and Dave Meros, who later stated that The Difference Machine 'is one of the best prog releases of the decade.' The Difference Machine shows a harder edge than previous BBT releases with significant post-rock influences blending with the band's progressive sound. The emphasis is on lengthy, complex songs and intricate music. Influences include Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, Sigur Ros, Mew and Oceansize. The Difference Machine was re-released as a digipack version with an additional song in January 2010. Key songs are Perfect Cosmic Storm, Pick Up if You're There, Salt Water Falling on Uneven Ground and Summer's Lease (which featured on the covermount CD available with Classic Rock magazine's July 2008 issue.) Critical acclaim:

Splendidly mellifluous UK prog, featuring appearances from Marillion's Pete Trewavas and Nick D'Virgilio from Spock's Beard.
Dave Ling, Classic Rock and Metal Hammer magazines

The Bournemouth band have extra locomotive power for their fifth album, with guest Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard, Genesis, Tears For Fears) and Dave Meros (Spock's Beard.) This is finely crafted and acutely involving, especially the chilling Salt Water Falling On Uneven Ground.
Geoff Barton, Classic Rock

Three epics in the 12 to 14 minute range dominate The Difference Machine, but the seven minute closer Summer's Lease stands its own beside the big guys, offering the most easily accessible melodies of the bunch on first listen. Make no mistake, though, the distinctive vocal harmonies and instrumental passage resolutions of the long tracks are what make this recording such a special experience. Score: 15.5 out of 16. Progression Magazine

Here's a tasty slab of pure prog, the fifth album from a band that continues to plough its own considerable furrow without the aid of label support. This is an English garden variety of progressive rock, not the brutal 21st century insanity of LA's Upsilon Acrux, and Genesis and Marillion are your references (indeed, Pete Trewavas can be found guesting). Expect tracks in excess of 10 minutes, fuzz guitar of every colour, serious rocking out, Beatlesque Mellotronisms, grandiose organs and perhaps just a bit too much saxophone. But then nothing's perfect...
Guitar and Bass magazine

This latest disc from Big Big Train is a fine example of how an artist can combine classic progressive rock sounds with more modern textures in a mlange that, while nodding to the music of others is as a whole something unique. There are sections that will make you think of bands like Genesis, Marillion and others, but I doubt anyone has combined those elements into a composite that's quite like this. Featuring guest appearances from Marillion's Pete Trewavas and Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros from Spock's Beard. I suppose the easiest comparison to give you an idea of what the music sounds like would be The Flower Kings, but this doesn't completely cover it. With three epics separated by short instrumentals and some great music, Big Big Train's The Difference Engine should be on every prog fan's playlist.
Music Street Journal

Unashamed, unreconstructed PROG F***IN' ROCK. The Difference Machine is bound to please fans of Yes, The Enid and early Genesis. This one's an epic...sit back and lose yourself.
Terrorizer

The Difference Machine.... arrived on my desk unbidden and with the barest of biographical sketches enclosed, and proceeded to take over half a morning of my time. Typically I'll throw a new arrival in and give it five or ten minutes before moving on, especially if the "to be reviewed" pile has gotten as big as it has just now. But The Difference Machine did not budge from my CD player until the closing notes of "Summer's Lease" had played out an hour later, by which time I had read as much as I possibly could about both this project and this band. The band -- avowed fans of early Genesis, King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator -- did not start out as a prog outfit but rather evolved into one over time, reaching full flower with 2004's well-reviewed Gathering Speed. The attention received by the latter album also opened doors for the band in the larger prog community, leading to some wonderful guest shots on this disc by modern prog stalwarts like Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros of Spock's Beard and Pete Trewavas of Marillion. The group's distinctive sound carries echoes of Gabriel-era Genesis in its complexity and seriousness of purpose, but also picks up threads of Dark Side-era Pink Floyd in its dreamy jams and liberal use of sax, not to mention a smidgen of Death Cab For Cutie-esque shimmering melancholy. Principally composed by Spawton and produced by Poole, The Difference Machine is a magnificent piece of work, one of the most engrossing and entertaining modern prog albums I've heard.
Jason Warburg, Daily Vault

Nothing stops BBT anymore, the audacity of how to succeed with this, their best opus at the end of fifteen years and seven discs, rather astounding, no? It is therefore high time to rehabilitate oneself with the band... because this is one of the best albums of Progressive Rock of the year without any argument. A band at the top of their creativity finally.I look for beauty, I cannot find a flaw. You want to give pleasure and you do not know which album to buy? You are blas from being blas? Nothing astonishes you anymore? Then you have not yet listened to Big Big Train's latest album. It is a must. Harmonie Magazine

A confident, complex time-signatured and, at times, colossal slab of unashamed symphonic prog rock combining IQ / Pendragon melodiousness, Crimson guitar and sax and Genesis / PFM Mellotron with some lovingly old-fashioned Hammond organ and refreshing classical colourations on viola.
Classic Rock Society

English Boy Wonders

This is the re-released version of English Boy Wonders, which was released in November 2008. The re-release is a re-worked, partially re-recorded and entirely re-mixed version of the band's 1997 album. Again, a number of the tracks are available for free download from the BBT website (check out the download of the month page), Last FM and MySpace. English Boy Wonders is a lengthy CD, containing almost 80 minutes of the band's best songs. It is a very diverse album, featuring a number of different styles including progressive rock, English pop, alternative rock and fusion. Influences include Genesis, King Crimson, Radiohead, XTC, The Cure, Anthony Phillips and Prefab Sprout. Despite the diversity of music, it is a cohesive album, with a number of songs sharing linked themes. English Boy Wonders features Martin Orford on keyboards and flute. Key songs: The Shipping Forecast, Albion Perfide, Reaching for John Dowland, Boxgrove Man, Fell Asleep, Brushed Aside, Pretty Mom Critical acclaim: At 80 minutes long, this is a rich, polished and rewarding listen, reminiscent of Yes at their most accessible coupled with the pastoral approach of Caravan. There are two 10-minute tracks, the balmy Albion Perfide and elegiac love song The Shipping Forecast - but there's plenty of enjoyment to be culled from the shorter offerings. Score: 8 out of 10 Geoff Barton, Classic Rock Much of this English group's second release from 1997 has been re-recorded with additional material added to what the band considered a sketchy, only partly realised effort the first time around. The result is a collection of several tracks ranging from two to 10 minutes, densely structured and as good as anything they've issued since building their own recording studio. The pastoral understatement, tasteful mellotron, rich harmony vocals and infectious guitar licks combine to effectively suggest the wistful pain of broken relationships. Score: 15.5 out of 16 Progression Magazine Just below the summit: Gathering Speed (2004) and Goodbye to the Age of Steam (1994)

Gathering Speed

This is a concept album from 2004, telling the story of a Battle of Britain fighter pilot. It was the band's first release to feature vocalist Sean Filkins who also features on The Difference Machine album. Gathering Speed saw Big Big Train in nostalgic mood, with Mellotrons and 12-strings to the fore. However, it also showed the first signs of the band's post-rock influence. It has a slightly more pastoral sound than The Difference Machine but it is very much an album in the grand progressive rock style. Gathering Speed was re-released as a remastered digipack version in late 2009 with an 8 page poster booklet. Key tracks: Fighter Command, The Road Much Further On, Powder Monkey. Influences: Genesis, Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips, Oceansize, Sigur Ros. Critical acclaim: "Gathering Speed is about a pilot shot down in 1940 during the Battle of Britain, beautifully described by great sounds, excellent melodies and fantastic atmospheres. When packing for your holiday, it is impossible not to take this CD with you." Metal Hammer "On 'Gathering Speed' Big Big Train have decided to bring us back to the good old days of great progressive rock... the seventies, but they manage to do it without ever coming close to sounding dated. In my opinion their greatest influence is Genesis but not because they actually sound like them (even though at times some of the music could have found it's place on Trick of the Tail or Selling England by the Pound), but more because of the delicate and subtle manner in which they often entangle acoustic guitars, mellotron and piano to produce incredibly moving music. 'Gathering Speed' is an album that should be in the CD collection of every fan of progressive music. My highest possible recommendation. this CD is by far my leading candidate for my best album of 2004." Prognosis Goodbye to the Age of Steam

This was the band's first album, dating from 1994. Age of Steam established the band's typical early sound, pastoral English prog with an indie-pop influence. The band were new to the recording studio and some of the inexperience shows, but not to the detriment of the album. The album features two epic tracks, two classical-guitar based instrumentals and a number of shorter songs demonstrating a quirky, progressive-rock influenced style. Many of the songs are linked and there are a number of recurring musical themes and motifs. A remixed and remastered version of Goodbye to the Age of Steam was released in April 2011. The reissue featured new cover artwork and three bonus tracks. Influences: It Bites, Genesis, XTC, The Cure, Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips Key tracks: Wind Distorted Pioneers, Blow the House Down, Blue Silver Red, Losing Your Way On the foothills: Bard (2002)

Bard

Bard is a transitional album. Age of Steam and English Boy Wonders were recorded in commercial studios and initially released through the specialist progressive rock label, GEP. Bard was the first time that we recorded an album in our own studio (which at that time was fairly basic) and released an album on our own label. Our first singer Martin Read left the band during recording and many of the vocal duties were handled by other band members. Bard is a qualified success with a number of strong songs hampered by inexperience. However, it was an important album for us in that it gave us the confidence to continue building our studio and our own label. Bard is a very pastoral album, focusing on the quieter side of the band's music, including a number of ambient sections. Influences: Genesis, Steve Hackett, The Cure Key tracks: The Last English King, This Is Where We Came In, For Winter In the valley: other releases for those who want to have everything by Big Big Train: From the River to the Sea (1992), The Infant Hercules (1993), English Boy Wonders original release (1997)

From the River to the Sea The teenage scribblings of a group of It Bites wannabees. Recorded on Fostex 1/4" 8 track tape, this was originally released as a demo tape (remember those?) and then, later, as a demo CD with two extra tracks. Influences: It Bites Key tracks: Downhilling, Least Peculiar Thing The Infant Hercules

Essentially a live performance recorded on the band's own 8-track for posterity. Rough around the edges, but showing a little promise. The songs were stronger. Later versions of the demo included Far Distant Thing, a song recorded for a radio session just prior to the Goodbye to the Age of Steam sessions. A new, substantially rewritten, version of Kingmaker was recorded in 2011 and featured on the second version of the Far Skies Deep Time EP. Influences: It Bites, Genesis Key tracks: Kingmaker, Lincoln Green, Red Five English Boy Wonders (original version)

Released in an incomplete and hastily-mixed state as our recording contract with GEP was coming to an end, this version is inferior in every way to the 2008 re-release. Copies on Amazon have been priced at close to 200 from time to time, so now something of a rarity. I even sold my girlfriend's copy (oops).

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