Big Big Train - Gathering Speed


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Treefrog Records
Catalog Number: tfcd002
Format: CD
Total Time: 55:38:00

This review is excerpted from Clayton's July 5, 2004 The Prog Life column found here -ed.

Complex Yes-like stuff here, with sudden shifts from the serene to the energetic and back again. Vocalist Sean Pilkine belts the lines out like a cross between Chris Squire and Jon Anderson. Expect layers and layers of gorgeous Yes-like harmonies. The music, while solidly in the classic Yes/Genesis vein, often takes a more modern approach. Think equal parts Porcupine Tree, Yes, and Genesis, and you'll be in the right neighborhood. The recording can be a little harsh at times, but is generally fine. The packaging is professionally manufactured, although the artwork looks a little amateurish. Excellent songwriting brings this CD into competition with modern artists such as Spock?s Beard and The Flower Kings. Definitely a band to keep an eye on!


Tracklisting:
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 (6:36) / Powder Monkey (9:08) / Gathering Speed (7:23)

Musicians:
Steve Hughes - drums and percussion
Andy Poole - bass, recording
Ian Cooper ? keyboards
Greg Spawton - guitars, keyboards, vocals
Sean Filkins - vocals and blues harp

Discography:
From The River To The Sea (demos on self-released CD) (1992)
The Infant Hercules (demo cass) (1993)
Goodbye To The Age Of Steam (1994)
English Boy Wonders (1997)
Bard (2002)
Gathering Speed (2004/2009)
The Difference Machine (2007/2010)
English Boy Wonders (remade/remastered) (2008)
The Underfall Yard (2009/2011)
Goodbye To The Age Of Steam (remastered/expanded) (2011)
Far Skies Deep Time (EP) (2011/2017)
English Electric, Part One (2012)
English Electric, Part Two (2013)
English Electric Full Power (EE1+EE2+bonus) (2013)
Make Some Noise (EP incl EEFP bonus tracks) (2013)
From Stone & Steel (digital only) (2015)
A Stones Throw From The Line (2015)
Folklore (2016)
English Electric (reissue of EEFP) (2016)
London Song (EP) (digital only) (2017)
Grimspond (2017)
The Second Brightest Star (2017)
Merchants Of Light (2018)
Swan Hunter (EP) (digital only) (2018)
Grand Tour (2019)
Empire (digital only) (2020)
The Underfall Yard (remixed) (2021)
Common Ground (2021)
Welcome To The Planet (2022)

Stone & Steel (BR, OOP; digital only) (2015)
Reflectors Of Light (BR, OOP) (2019)
Empire (BR, OOP) (2020)
Summer Shall Not Fade (CD/BR) (2022)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: July 5th 2004
Reviewer: Clayton Walnum
Score:
Artist website: www.bigbigtrain.com
Hits: 3150
Language: english

  

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