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GATHERING SPEED
Tracklist: High Tide Last Stand (7.06); Fighter Command (10.44); The Road Much Further On (8.39); Sky Flying on Fire (6.04); Pell Mell (6.35); Powder Monkey (9.07); Gathering Speed (7.35)
Tracklist: High Tide Last Stand (7.06); Fighter Command (10.44); The Road Much Further On (8.39); Sky Flying on Fire (6.04); Pell Mell (6.35); Powder Monkey (9.07); Gathering Speed (7.35);
Almost two years after their successful 'Bard' album, Big Big Train are back once more with their latest offering 'Gathering Speed'. This new release is a concept piece set in the period of the Battle of Britain, and
the songs revolve around the death of a fighter pilot during that conflict. This, in itself, is unusual - but another twist here is that, rather than following a single thread, the story unfolds as an
exploration of loss through the eyes of both the subject and of his family. The songs look at the emotional and psychological impact of death and, while the subject matter may at first seem to be on the gloomy
side, it is dealt with sensitively and the result is quite thought provoking.
The core of the band remains unchanged since 'Bard' and consists of founder members Greg Spawton (guitars, keyboards & vocals), Andy Poole (bass) and Ian Cooper (keyboards) - but a few changes have been made with
the rest of the lineup. Back to the fold after a stint with The Enid comes drummer Steve Hughes, and stepping up to take the lead vocal spot is Sean Filkins.
Additional backing vocals are provided by Laura Murch who, I must say, has done an excellent job.
The album opens with 'High Tide Last Stand'.
Here the scene is set by the unmistakable sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine roaring overhead. Musically this is a nice easy going introduction to the album, and there seem to be some strong Camel influences at work here, while vocally things are a little more 'Yes' like, particularly with the superb use of vocal harmonies throughout. This is a piece full of contrasts with driving rhythm section and fast keyboard runs set against more sedate piano play and gentle acoustic guitar passages, but meshing together effortlessly.
'Fighter Command' continues to make use of strong vocal harmonies.
This track has a generally more melancholic atmosphere, but it flows smoothly and it is easy to get caught up in mood. Overall comparisons can be made to both Jadis and Pink Floyd, the similarities to the latter being particularly emphasised by the moving female vocal section, provided by Laura, that closes the piece - full marks for this one.
'The Road Much Further On' gets underway with acoustic guitar work set against string sounds and, quite fittingly, there is sadness and tension to be found here. The music is fairly sparse initially, presumably
to allow the vocals to come to the fore, but is none the less effective for this. The vocals themselves are crisp and clear and are delivered with a feeling.
Sean proves to be an excellent addition to the band. His voice reminds me sometimes of the singer in James while at others there is more a mood of Menel-era IQ.
Next we have the one purely instrumental piece of the album, 'Sky Flying on Fire' which, in terms of style and sound, does not seem to be too far removed from some of Steve Hackett's earlier works.
Although pleasant enough, I have to be honest here and confess it did not really hold my attention too well and, even now, I find it hard to express any valid opinions about the track one way or the other.
The keyboard playing from the start of 'Pell Mell' shows what can only be referred to as a significant Genesis influence, but even so the track does a great job of blending old and new ideas with the chuntering
guitar sound provides the perfect foil for the keyboards.
Again I found myself impressed with Sean's vocals here as he is called upon to cover quite a wide range over the course of the song, and this is accomplished very well indeed.
After the slightly hectic pace of 'Pell Mell' there is a sudden cut into the more subdued 'Powder Monkey', where the main character finally meets his fate. The suddenness of this changeover creates a sense of
shock, but gradually the muted musical tones give way to a more uplifting section that carries the listener aloft.
Ultimately we come to the title track, 'Gathering Speed', which rounds off the album in fine style.
Guitar and keyboards work well together throughout, while bass and drums really hold everything together to perfection. Despite the drama that has unfolded before us, this piece strives to impart a mood of quiet serenity and also manages to leave the listener on a high.
There is really only one criticism I have regarding this release and that relates to the packaging itself.
The CD comes with a simple four page insert and, while this presumably cuts down on production costs, it would have been nice to have had the lyrics included. All is not lost in this respect however, since the band have posted the lyrics and extensive notes about all the tracks on their website although, sadly, I had not realised this fact until I got to this point of the review. On the plus side though at least the opinions presented here are an honest 'as heard' review of the album.
In conclusion then, I found the smooth flowing style of this album and the way the subject is dealt with to be both emotive and evocative. The music itself creates a nice crossover between traditional and
neo-progressive rock styles, and the final outcome is an album that never fails to please. When it was released, I found 'Bard' to be a pretty good album, but I think the band have made significant advances
since then and 'Gathering Speed' is to my mind well worth checking out.
Simon 28/03/2004
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