English Electric (Part One) by Big Big Train

A band that hasn't missed a beat since The Underfall Yard, their first album with David Longdon, maintaining the same level of excellence, even after the inevitable lineup change, right up to their latest works, the stunning 2024 album The Likes of Us.

English Electric (Part One) is an emotional album that evokes feelings rarely found in other bands in contemporary progressive rock.

You can feel the great care put into the composition and arrangement of this album, released three years after their previous one, in the search for sounds and in the spectacular compositions and performances, the beautiful drums and excellent bass, the excellent piano, the flutes, the guitar—I can't find any weaknesses.

A balanced album even in its explosive moments, never overdone and therefore captivating, very emotional, almost moving, and worth listening to often.

I recommend it to all lovers of good music because this is a simply beautiful album with beautiful artwork!

Tracks
1. The First Rebreather (8:32)
2. Uncle Jack (3:49)
3. Winchester from St. Giles' Hill (7:16)
4. Judas Unrepentant (7:18)
5. Summoned by Bells (9:17)
6. Upton Heath (5:39)
7. A Boy in Darkness (8:03)
8. Hedgerow (8:52)
Running Time: 58:46

The Lineup
- David Longdon - lead vocals and backing vocals (1), flute (1-8), vibraphone (1), tambourine (1, 2, 6-8), banjo and melodica (2), accordion (2, 5), keyboards (2, 4-6, 8), electric (4, 6) and acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6), mandolin (4, 6, 8), bird and bee sounds (2), whistles (8)
- Dave Gregory - guitar (1-4, 6-8), banjo (5), Mellotron (8), string arrangements (1, 3), vocals for The Court Usher (4)
- Andy Poole - acoustic guitar (3, 4), keyboards (7, 8), mandolin (5), backing vocals (1-5, 7, 8), baritone bee sound (2), producer
- Greg Spawton - bass (1, 3, 4, 6-8), electric (1, 5) and acoustic (3-5) guitars, backing vocals (1-5, 7, 8), Moog (1), mandolin (2), keyboards (7-8)
- Nick D'Virgilio - drums (1-8), backing vocals (4, 7, 8)
Featuring:
- Daniel Steinhardt - guitar (3, 8)
- Andy Tillison - organ (1, 4, 6), piano and Moog (1), keyboards (1, 4, 6)
- Danny Manners - piano (3, 4, 7, 8), organ (3), double bass (2, 4-7)
- Dave Desmond - trombone and brass arrangements (7, 8)
- Ben Godfrey - cornet (7, 8), trumpet and piccolo trumpet (8)
- Jan Jaap Langereis - recorder (7)
- Jonathan Truscott - tuba (7, 8)
- John Storey - euphonium (7, 8)
- Rachel Hall - violin (2, 4, 5, 8), string arrangements (5)
- Sue Bowran - violin (6)
- Eleanor Gilchrist - violin (1, 3)
- Geraldine Berreen - violin (1, 3, 6)
- Teresa Whipple - viola (1, 3, 6)
- Abigail Trundle - cello (1, 3, 5-7)
- Martin Orford - Backing vocals (8)
- Violet Adams - soprano bee-like sound (2), backing vocals (5, 7, 8)
- Lily Adams - soprano bee-like sound (2), backing vocals (5, 7, 8)
- Verity Joy - backing vocals (5, 7, 8)
- Louis Philippe - string arrangements (6)