SUMMER SHALL NOT FADE: LIVE AT LORELEY

Having recently been bowled over by the live set A FLARE ON THE LENS, which has Alberto Bravin on lead vocals, I was bowled over all over again by SUMMER SHALL NOT FADE, the ideal concert collection from what must be considered Big Big Train's classic line-up, the combination responsible for delightful studio albums such as THE UNDERFALL YARD, ENGLISH ELECTRIC, FOLKLORE and GRIMSPOUND. Admittedly, by the time BBT got to play Loreley, founding member Andy Poole had left the band, but in fact Robin Armstrong turned out to be a perfect replacement. Nearly all of BBT's strongest albums are well represented here, and the result is almost overpowering: two (occasionally three) expert keyboard players, a brilliant violinist, two wonderfully inspired guitarists, a gorgeous brass quintet and a highly accomplished rhythm section create a sound that, in my opinion, has never been surpassed in this century's progressive rock genre. And let's not forget the vocalists: lead singer David Longdon is in splendid voice throughout, and at least four band members (possibly more) deliver deeply moving backing vocals. Indeed, it makes me nostalgic to see this particular combination of players in action: Longdon died in 2021, and Rachel Hall, Danny Manners & Dave Gregory were to leave BBT soon after. (Just for this particular band, Gregory wrote some of the most riveting guitar parts in prog history, thus ensuring BBT's name would live on, well, ALMOST forever.) I'm not the kind of reviewer who'll award five stars carelessly, but let's face it: this is a masterly live set by one of the greatest 'crossover prog' bands at the top of their game. Strongly recommended.