Bard (Album)
Occupation
- Guitars, keyboards, vocals Gregory Spawton
- Bass, Vocals Andy Poole
- Keyboards, Piano, Vocals: Tony Mueller
- Keyboards: Ian Cooper
- Drums, percussion Phil Hogg
- Vocals: Martin Read
- Vocals: Jo Michaels
- Windchimes: Rob Aubrey
Bard is the third studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. The CD was released in February 2002.
Content
BBT solve on this CD from the Neo -Prog and have been here more the retro prog Act. Influences of Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett can be heard. The songs are part of difficult relationships, others are based on English history. In the play, The Last English King is, for example, tells the story of King Harold, the first battle of Stamford Bridge successfully hit and then in the Battle of Hastings was defeated. The song Blacksmithing is a " Life goes on " piece based on a poem from the 15th century called The Blacksmiths. It contains four instrumentals.
Genesis
Big Big Train was after the release of the previous album English Boy Wonders in a difficult phase. The success would not be set. Steve Hughes, the drummer, moved to The Enid and was replaced for a short time by Pete Hibbit. The label GEP dissolved the contract with the band. Gregory Spawton and Andy Poole wrote further on songs and built their own studio. On the recording of the Bard drummer Phil Hogg were involved and again Tony Mueller and Martin Read. The latter decided, however, during the recordings to leave the band. Towards the end of the recordings also Ian Cooper rejoined the band. With release of the album BBT was announced that this was the last publication. In retrospect, however, it turned out that the band certainly had the potential to act independently of a larger label.
Reviews
In contrast to the previous album, Bard was noted and discussed mostly positive.
Trivia
Bard should not be re-released actually, this decision shall be reconsidered.