ENGLISH ELECTRIC (PART ONE)

"English Electric Part One" is Big Big Train's seventh studio record and it was released last year 2012. It is ranked as the third best record from 2012 and I won't blame the other listeners. From the very start I put the record on I liked it and it also grows in my ears. Since then they have also made a part two in the English Electric series. This is the first Big Big Train record I hear so I am a beginner. Many musicians made this happen but the main artists are: Andy Poole(bass, keyboards), Greg Spawton(guitars, keyboards, bass), David Longdon(vocals, flute, glockenspiel), Dave Gregory(electric guitar) and Nick D'Virgilio(drums). Also 21 more humen are listed with all their instruments such as organs, violins, violas, cellos, recorder, tuba, trombone and cornet. Just that enumeration gives you a hunch of the coming glory.

Yes this is a very good record, something that the future beings can pick and see how music could sound in the 10s. Every track here has its meaning. "The first repreather" has a heroic text and we get much Genesis-feeling but still with a full BBT outfit. It's symphonic when it want that and calmer and lyrical sometimes. "Uncle Jack" is very folky with something sounding like banjo and gives a hint of the English rural places which is explained with pride. "Winchester from St Giles Hill" is different. The verses are calm but skew and the choruses are faster and symphonic. A varied and sad song. Then "Judas Unrepentant" makes you happy with funny lyrics about a painter. The history reminds me both of Beatles and Genesis. A dashing final in the end. "Summoned by bells" is very melodic with harmonies and a great brass section. "Upton Heath" is also folky with nice flutes and a friendly text. "A boy in darkness" is a dolorous thing about a young miner with different parts and strong instrumental passages. Finally "Hedgerow" is a good one, very happy and clear and exhilarating. It concludes with a theme from "Uncle Jack".

Big Big Train is a pure evidence of great prog rock that is still being done, fourty years after the prog came to us with former giants. I see no meaning with giving this record less than five stars. A very well-produced album and also I want to say David Langdon's voice is perfect for this, fantastic prog voice. Take this chance to hear new good prog!