Ingenious Devices

Product Information

A personal favourite BBT epic, East Coast Raceris a completely new studio version recorded by the line-up of the band as it was in 2019.Gregory Spawton proudly calls it “ the definitive studio version.” With Dave Gregory’s guitar solo on the closing section, previously featured only on live versions of the song, adding to the climactic closing passage, the finale and the “ Into history, into legend, she flies” lines are pure Prog heaven. Almost as iconic as Genesis doing the New Jerusalem in Supper’s Ready or the soaring middle section of Yes’ And You And I. In a word, goosebumps. sounding muddied or confused. There is a delicacy and space within "Atlantic Cable", a poignancy perfectly captured Not ones to go through a year without releasing something on CD or Blu-ray, Big Big Train have released Ingenious Devices, a collection of "mankind and machine" trilogy of East Coast Racer (off 2013's English Electric: Part Two), Brooklands (off 2016's Folklore), and Voyager (off 2019's Grand Tour). As bassist, songwriter, and lyricist Greg Spawton quips in the liner notes, Ingenious Devices is a trilogy in five parts, with short string interlude The Book Of Ingenious Devices and a live version of Atlantic Cable added to round things out. with to give them a new life. Any excuse to listen to Longdon's vocals is always to be welcomed of course, as he was

The ending of the song now more closely resembles the ending created for the live performances. The piano remains prominent, but there are a few added flourishes of the cymbals and the final notes are punctuated by the 17-piece string section and a prolonged electric guitar note. It's a far more satisfying ending than the original recording, which simply fades out (as an aside, the fade out really needs to disappear forever from recorded music). Sold out gigs and new band members – third gig added". Bigbigtrain.com. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014 . Retrieved 16 April 2016. The band created a new arrangement for "Kingmaker", which they performed and recorded in June 2011. "Kingmaker" originally appeared on their 1992 demo album, The Infant Hercules. The new recording features the current line-up and replaced "Master of Time" on the Russian release of Far Skies Deep Time in a mini vinyl album format. [15] Band co-founder Andy Poole departed the band early in January 2018, [29] with guitarist and keyboardist Robin Armstrong joining the live line-up of the band the following month. [30] Armstrong left the line-up at the end of 2019. [31] [ non-primary source needed] Dave Gregory would announce his departure in March 2020 due to his desire to not tour internationally with Big Big Train. Randy McStine was subsequently named as his live replacement for scheduled shows in 2020, which were all subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] Later in 2020, it was announced that Carly Bryant and Dave Foster would join the BBT live band. [32] This live recording almost sounds too good to be live. It was expertly performed, and the recording is crisp and clear. Perhaps the only hint is the gentle reverb on Alberto Bravin's vocals from the venue itself. One of the primary differences between the live version and the studio is Clare Lindley's violin replaces Longdon's flute at the beginning.iTunes Essentials: Modern Prog". Bigbigtrain.blogspot.com. 13 February 2010 . Retrieved 16 April 2016. A new grand tour is set to roll, new music has been worked upon in Italy and the immediate future is looking bright. Time to get excited again about what’s happening in the world of Big Big Train.

With this release, Big Big Train has dared to push the boundaries even further, and in so doing, have created an impressive evolution. Ingenious Devices also includes a previously unreleased orchestral piece called The Book of Ingenious Devices, which links East Coast Racer and Brooklands. Band History – Revisiting the Age of Steam (2011)". Bigbigtrain.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014 . Retrieved 16 April 2016. Voyager features the entire original recording, along with some additional guitar and violin. It also has a new mix for this release. This has been a brilliant song since its release, and it has been played live, including on 2020's Empire live album. This song is particularly fun in the way it compares the exploration of our solar system with the Voyager spacecraft to the exploration of our own planet in centuries past. As all the songs on this release do, Voyager champions human ingenuity. I think the closing lyrics might also champion this band as we cherish its past and look forward to its future: With the exception of the late David Longdon’s lead vocals, which have been compiled from the original album sessions, East Coast Racer is a completely new studio version recorded by the line-up of the band as it was in 2019. Brooklands features newly recorded drums, bass and bass pedals, while Voyager includes additional guitar and violin. All three songs have been re-mixed for this release and all the audio is presented at 24/96.

Tracklist

Additionally Ingenious Devices includes a previously unreleased orchestral piece called The Book of Ingenious Devices, which links East Coast Racer and Brooklands, as well as a live version of Atlantic Cable, which was recorded on the band’s tour in September 2022. Wild River’, the first solo album from David Longdon has been re-mixed, re-mastered and expanded and will be released on 20th October. It is preceded by a single ‘Always’, which is available now.