English Electric Part One
Occupation
- Gregory Spawton
- Andy Poole
- David Longdon
- Dave Gregory
- Nick D' Virgilio
English Electric Part One is the seventh studio album by the English retro prog band Big Big Train. It was published on 3 September 2012.
Background
The band's own label " Treefrog " was renamed between 2004 and 2007 in " English Electric Recordings". In a blog entry from September 16, 2007 Gregory Spawton writes: "We have songs recorded for our next album, English Electric. " This next album but was then named The Underfall yard. From the idea for the album name and the publication of English Electric Part One therefore it took more than five years. Due to the success of The Underfall yard and Far Skies Deep Time, the band decided not only to " English Electric Recordings" to publish, but entered into a collaboration contract with the label " Giant Electric Pea ".
Content
Many of the songs are an exploration of the English countryside and the communities of men and women who work on or under the land and have shaped England's face. A central figure of the album is David Longdons " Uncle Jack ", a coal miner who loved nature and amount of time spent with his dog on a walk through the Knicks. It combines the songs that are located underground or in other dark places, the scenery songs. However, it is not a concept album.
The First rebreather is about the construction of the Severn Tunnel. The tunnel was an underground source, "The Great Spring" called, and had flooded by a diver whose normal equipment was not suited to be sealed. So it came to the use of the first rebreather. Musically, the song is mainly based Dave Gregory's guitar riffs and Andy Tillisons organ playing on. Gregory Spawton has incorporated references to the band The Divine Comedy.
Uncle Jack had spent a lot of time as a miner underground, so he really appreciated his free time at the surface, and often the nature, especially the hedgerows ( Knicks ) roamed. In thinking about his uncle and inspired by songs like My Friend The Sun ( Family) and Ooh La La ( Faces ) David Longdon has composed this song on a banjo.
From Winchester St Giles 'Hill is a play about the historical development of Winchester, on the basis of the outlook from St Giles' Hill. Gregory Spawton: " I asked Danny Manners to a piano part that sounds like a mountain stream flowing down a slope. For this obscure wish was a nice arrangement. "
Judas Unrepentant deals with the restorer, and art forger Tom Keating. The title refers to a Rembrandt picture named " Repentant Judas Returning the Pieces of Silver" ( The Repentant Judas ). Dave Gregory is here to usher his voice.
In Summoned By Bells is about the memories of Greg Spawtons mother of her childhood in Highfields ( Leicestershire ) and a trip there.
Upton Heath is an area in Dorset, where Greg Spawton like to walk. David Longdon has tried to give the song to a " campfire feeling." Dave Gregory plays banjo, Danny Manners bass.
The title of the song A Boy In Darkness is based on the novella " Boy in Darkness " by Mervyn Peake, however, has nothing to do with their content. The piece is divided into three parts. The first part deals with child labor in the coal mines of the 19th century. Topic of the third part is the suffering of children who are injured or killed by those to whom they are entrusted. The second part is an instrumental part which connects the two other parts.
Hedgerow attacks again Uncle Jack walks on, and makes his life above and below the earth over. The Beatles -esque coda is especially emphasized by the cornet of Ben Godfrey.
The musicians
The band
- Gregory Spawton: electric bass, electric guitar, Moog, backing vocals, keyboards, mandolin, acoustic guitar
- Andy Poole: backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, mandolin, baritone Bee ( low hum )
- David Longdon: vocals, flute, vibraphone, tambourine, banjo, accordion, melodica, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Birds and Bees ( chirping and buzzing )
- Dave Gregory: electric guitars, banjo, mellotron, the voice of the usher in Judas Unrepentant
- Nick D' Virgilio: drums, backing vocals
Guest musicians
- Abigail Trundle: Cello
- Andy Tillison: Organ, Moog Keyboards
- Ben Godfrey: Cornet, Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet
- Danny Manners: piano, double bass
- Daniel Steinhardt: Electric Guitar
- Dave Desmond: Trombone
- Eleanor Gilchrist: Violin
- Geraldine Berreen: Violin
- January Jaap Langereis: Recorders
- Jon Truscott: Tuba
- John Storey: euphonium, trombone
- Lily Adams: backing vocals
- Martin Orford: backing vocals
- Rachel Hall: Violin
- Sue Bowran: Violin
- Teresa Whipple: Viola
- Verity Joy: backing vocals
- Violet Adams: backing vocals
Title list
Reviews
"For two years I watched " The Underfall Yard " as THE definitive slice of rock to the last twenty years. She is standing in a line with the best of the early Yes and the late Talk Talk. [ ... ] But when I heard the promo version of " English Electric Part I " heard again and again, I had to take this assessment of distance. Nothing could ever beat "Fragile", "Close to the Edge" did. Nothing could ever be better than " The Colour of Spring", but "Spirit of Eden " was. Nothing could the quality and beauty of "The Underfall Yard" beat, " English Electric " has topped it. "
"This is essential for any lover of good music. "
"Big Big Train - The Anglo - American prog collective now just keep on getting better and better. English Electric Pt. One is all the proof you'll need! "
"Wonderful relaxed (in the best sense of the word, not boring, but just relaxed, you have nothing by Frickel - peak performance show ), symphonic music echoes from the speakers. The Englishman act with typical British understatement and celebrate as it were the landed gentry version of progressive rock. "
" " English Electric (Part One) "is a fine album full of beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies. The album is a delicate mix of symphonic / progressive rock and Influences of the Canterbury scene with a classical touch Often. With " English Electric (Part One) " the band follows the chosen path of "Under case Yard" and Refines the typical English atmosphere shines through the music did. In a delicate way the string ensemble and brass band is integrated into the music. Well done, Big Big Train Has outdone itself! "
" Imagine a voice between Phil Collins and Gary More. Imagine harmonies and melodies that sound like Transatlantic, Genesis and The Flower Kings. Imagine the group was surrounded by musicians of different musical origins, with cello, viola, banjo, mandolin, accordion, tuba, etc. .. [ ... ] of this album will be a reference in the world of progressive rock. English Electric Part Two will be awaited with great impatience! "
" While it is still a bit of a shame that on " The Difference Machine " ( the most original album of Big Big Train) chosen path was to leave with his modern, fusionbeeinflußteren prog sound again, in favor of a Genesis - inspired retro - Prog sounds. This plays out but at a very high level and from the music of BBT just makes fun. Unique is the album but then again. Due to the delicate interplay of the actors just instrumental in the range The typical multi -instrumental playing Big Big Train with Mellotron, trumpet, flute, viola, cello, and so is something special. "
Cover
The photographs on the cover and booklet have been made by Matt Sefton in County Durham at the Tanfield Railway. Big Big Train have discovered a picture of him on Flickr, the Matt Sefton had described as follows: " English Electric: Side panel of a railway crane, Tanfield Railway sidings, County Durham. Great name for a band and an album cover - if it does not exist already, I'm claiming it ". Gregory Spawton responded with a comment to the picture: " My band is working on an album called English Electric at the moment. We're prog / post rock. Great pictures, thanks for uploading them. "So band and photographer came in contact. The pictures on the CD are from the photo collection " Tanfield Railway, Co. Durham " by Matt Sefton.