THE UNDERFALL YARD

To a well respected album here and I must say that I do have a penchant to like this band - a lot. I will say that I don't know why it forms a part of the Crossover Prog genre here when it clearly doesn't fit there with the release of the previous three albums. I don't get the early Genesis comparisons other than to agree that it is essentially "English" music - pastoral in style to a large degree. This music carries me on warm clouds of musical bliss and it is like balm to my ears when I am in the mood for something just to ride the notes with. The only trouble with Big Big Train I would suggest is that they don't have a harder edge to their music at times although when I spool it up to listen to then I'm not in the mood for a harder edge anyhow.

The music is tasteful and soothing with just enough adventure in it to please me when I'm in the mood for it (which is often) - if I want musical adrenalin excitement then I'll play something else - it is like slipping into a warm relaxing bath as opposed to riding a whitewater raft. The musicianship is excellent and I love the inclusion of the wind instruments and the way they are used throughout the compositions. Greg Spawton is no slouch with the lead guitar and he plays with good taste adding to the beauty of the music without dominating it at all - the same really goes for each respective instrument and member here. David Longdon on lead vocals has a soothing voice which has the same kind of tone as what Peter Gabriel has, perhaps richer though.

There is no weak track on the album at all and they all make up a cohesive whole of a brilliant and very well put together album which grows more on me each time I listen to it. The musicianship making up the album is complex and I discover more each time I listen to it - which makes for an interesting experience each time I slip into that warm, relaxing bath that is "The Underfall Yard". A very solid 5 star release as far as I'm concerned and an extremely valuable addition to my collection.