Big Big Train - Welcome To The Planet

Big Big Train
Welcome To The Planet
(English Electric)
8.5/10
By Paul Davies


There’s a strong and heady mix of supple flavours of songwriting and musicianship on this very welcome addition to the Big Big Train discography. The compelling music that awaits the listener has clearly been preciously worked up in the studio to finally, and tantalisingly, land in the ears and perk up the intellectual and emotional pleasure zones.

This pitch-perfect passion project is paved with detailed and grand moments of surprise and discovery as the band touch on many musical stones for their listeners to pick up and reveal the splendid surprises that lie beneath. Big Big Train create big brain music beginning with Made From Sunshine's uplifting melodies and rumbling rhythm that's alloyed by brass and simpatico vocal harmonies from David Longdon and Carly Bryant. The sharp crosshatching violin/viola introduction by Clare Lindley to The Connection Plan, underpinned by stalwart of the band Greg Spawton's rangy bass, introduces another new player into the service of the band as David Foster (co-writer of the opening track) also makes his presence known on guitar. Now the longest-serving guitarist in the band, following Dave Gregory's departure, Rikard Sjoblom takes his fluid fretboard to flight on the exquisite Lanterna on which Longdon sings with a passionate beauty as he does throughout. Longdon's strong and smoky vocals particularly excel on Capitoline Venus and Oak And Stone where he remains alive in these glorious moments.

There’s also a brace of enchanting instrumental tracks - A Room With No Ceiling and Bats In The Belfry - on which the players Prog out with an impressively controlled abandon. Nick D’Virgilio percussively bangs away to playful and dramatic effect on the latter. And the fun continues as the charming and wistful Proper Jack Froster perfectly narrates the unbridled joy and adventurous wonderment that snow and ice conjure up to the child within us; it’s also as catchy as the head cold that follows being out in the frosty elements for too long. The grand musical entrance to Welcome To The Planet, with dreamy harmonies from Bryant and Longdon, which blends beautifully with the drifting instrumentation, is an impressive aural seduction technique worth repeating. Especially as Carly vamps up a Great Gig In The Sky vibe over the skilful and amusing musical accompaniment.

No different to many of their recent releases, this song cycle contains deep and boundless musical meaning and layers some of which are submerged in the subconscious and gradually emerge on further listening. Recorded before the tragic passing of David Longdon, there’s a transcendent spirit at play here revealing a band constantly evolving their music as they shape-shifted their personnel. From the uplifting opening song Made From Sunshine to the tragic news of David’s passing, which is still being processed by everyone who loved David through his music, this album has David Longdon’s masterly fingerprints all over it for eternity.