Prog4you.com - Progressive Rock Review

: : Gathering Speed : :

This CD is a story about and is dedicated to the men and women of the Royal Air Force who gave their lives during the Battle of Britain. This is powerful story and the music does it excellent justice.

This is not really a “prog” CD but there are several long songs so I guess by that measure ‘it must be prog’. But with the CD only about 55 minutes long there is really no filler here.

As you read the song titles you can surmise what the song is about. They mix some humor with a very dark topic; a topic where many lost their lives.

Nothing really “fast paced” on this CD. Most of the songs are pensive and introspective but they do move and do come across as well thought out and executed. Not like the various parts were cut and paste into it to “make a song”.

You have well played music that highlights the abilities of each player. Laura’s singing is almost haunting. She vocalizes as if angels were in the room and you get the impression that she symbolizes the angels welcoming the honorable dead to Heaven.

There are parts of this CD that sound very familiar but bottom line, as on all past Big Big Train CD’s they have a very distinct sound that is theirs and theirs alone. It’s a mellow CD that is so very haunting if you think about the subject matter. About the loss of life, of love, but of hope for protecting ones family, friends and country.

If you have liked Big Big Train in the past, this CD will fit your bill exactly. To be honest, this CD is quite a bit different from Bard, of course Bard was different from previous BBT releases. So, bottom line, a very nice offering from these guys who have been releasing music since 1991. Let’s hope they can keep up the good work.

Rating: 7 of 10
Reviewed By: Stephen Ellis

: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :

: : Discography : :
Goodbye to the Age of Steam - 1994
English Boy Wonders - 1997
Bard - 2002
Gathering Speed - 2004