Big Big Train is an English band, who, as their name suggests, have been gathering speed and momentum over their 22 year career. Their previous studio album The Underfall Yard released in 2009 received many plaudits for its rich seams of atmospheric prog, all steeped in the history and culture of England.

It is not hard to trace a direct line back to the great storytellers of the 70s, predominantly Genesis, but English Electric 1, the first part of a double album, is an album like no other. Drawing on bucolic natural landscapes, Victorian coalmines and market town communities, this is a collection of songs full of light and darkness which fuses folk music with prog. That however is only a brief overview in describing the immensity of this exceptionally beautiful album. The attention to detail as heard in the painstakingly intricate musical arrangements and the peerless production is staggering.

Many are already citing this as the most English album since Selling England by The Pound. But Big Big Train are very much a modern progressive rock band who have set the bar very high for themselves, and indeed, their contemporaries. How can they possibly better this on Part Two?

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

This sets the scene, David Longdon’s plaintive voice combining with minor guitar chords and a flute to begin painting an aural picture from yesteryear. There is a huge Genesis vibe throughout as it opens up into different musical channels. Among the guest artistes is The Tangent’s Andy Tillison whose masterful keyboards blend with Longdon’s flute. There are also strings and a wonderful guitar solo from Dave Gregory (ex-XTC) before Longdon raises his vocals several notches and Tillison comes in with a melting Moog underpinned with keyboards and understated drums from Nick D’Virgilio.