Big Big Train - Merchants of Light (3 LP)
- LP
- 3 piece(s)
- 2018
- 16 tracks
- 2 uur, 16 min
- progressive rock
Merchants of Light
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Those who provide us with books, abstracts, and experimental patterns from all corners. We dub them merchants of light," as Francis Bacon penned in 1627. A perfectly suited title for an album such as this, a live performance by one of England's most underrated musical treasures. Maintaining their impressive release schedule for a band of their stature, Big Big Train dropped this live album hot on the heels of the popularity surge sparked by "Folklore" and "Grimspound," further building on the momentum "English Electric" had already generated. Not being a band known for extensive touring, it was only natural that the three nights they performed at London's Cadogan Hall, wrapping up on October 1st, 2017, sold out swiftly. And the band delivered: focusing on their two most recent albums at the time, this is a masterclass in classic British symphonic prog from a remarkably tight-knit group of musicians who clearly relish their stage time and know they've got stellar songs to share. Tracks like "Brave Captain," "London Plane," "The Transit Of Venus Across The Sun," "Swan Hunter," and "Victorian Brickwork" shine here, pristine and flawless, performed with precision, their melodies cascading everywhere. The only critique one might offer is that, as a progressive band, you'd expect a bit more adventure in these live renditions. Apart from "Drum And Brass," which serves more as an introduction and features a nice ad-lib between Nick D'Virgilio and the band's brass section, the rest of the songs are quite faithful to their studio versions. But, once again, this has been a trend in most live recordings lately... and, again, it's a minor downside when you hear the guys going full throttle on any of their greatest tracks. For the full experience, try snagging the "Reflectors Of Light" audiovisual version of the album!
At the moment, I can't quite stretch to the three lp set, but given my recent infatuation with BBT and the track Folklore, this double cd collection is an absolute steal at £15, offering fantastic value for money and boasting superb sound quality. If you're anything like me and have been slow to jump on the vinyl bandwagon of BBT's music, particularly in pursuit of the Folklore vinyl set, then this live collection is a must-buy. The live renditions of the songs I already own on official studio releases are absolutely breathtaking. It's akin to being transported back to the 70s, when I was a young lad first hearing Yessongs. The live versions of these songs are vastly different, often elongated and brimming with a unique live energy. Of course, with Yes came a change of drummer post-CTTE, from Bruford to White (RIP Alan). This music is simply outstanding, progressive yet accessible, a rare blend not often found in this genre outside of mid-period Genesis. David Longford's vocals are an absolute delight, and he will be deeply missed by us all. RIP again, David. It's becoming all too common these days to utter this phrase, especially since that tumultuous period in our history around 2020-22. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but far too many talented individuals are being taken from us far too soon. Why?! Rant over. So, go on, treat yourself to this live set and enjoy it with dim lighting, perhaps some candles, your favourite drink (an orange spritzer for me, as I avoid alcohol for health reasons) and maybe a crackling log fire. It's the perfect pastoral English music, top-notch in every way. Kudos to Greg, David, and the gang.
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