THE UNDERFALL YARD

The Underfall Yard is a contemporary progressive rock album. Hailing from Bournemouth and with 4 previous albums to their credit Big Big Train have delivered an album which is nothing short of astonishing. It's transparent that these pieces have been crafted and toiled over in a way which is not dissimilar to some of the themes on the album. Winchester Diver tells a true tale of Willian Walker who worked under the flooded Winchester Cathedral to shore up the foundations in appalling conditions and save the historic building. I like this analogy: English theme, hard work, painstakingly beautiful result. In terms of the theme and approach you can draw comparisons to the Genesis album Selling England By The Pound, but that would only be part of the story. The whole appeal of the album is its freshness and conviction. There are post-rock elements exemplorised by opener Evening Star which although fairly abstract, introduces one to some of the themes of the album, notably the exquisite use of brass instruments. Nowhere is this more justified than the closing section of Victorian Brickwork. It must have been revelationary when this came together in the studio, the mellotron and trumpet passage augmented by guitar solo is one of those moments that sends the hairs on your neck into spasm. To round things off is the title track, a modern classic, a 22 minute masterpiece. I can't recommend this album highly enough. it should become part of any self respecting music collection.