by Geoff Bailie
Hopefully if you follow our website (and follow Big Big Train), I don’t need to give you a full history lesson as part of this review. So with some knowledge taken as read, where does this new live release, A Flare On The Lens – Live in London fit? This first live set on new label Inside Out predates the studio album, The Likes of Us, which was released earlier in 2024. In August and September 2023, BBT played 17 shows in the UK and Europe which ended with two shows at London’s Cadogan Hall, a return to the venue where in 2017, the band played an acclaimed run of shows following the release of the Folklore and Grimspound albums.
And it’s with Folklore that this set kicks off. Greg Spawton, Nick D’Virgilio and Rikard Sjöblom, who played at those 2017 are here, and are joined within the evolved band by Alberto Bravin, Claire Lindley and Oskar Holldorff. Absent from the line up who subsequently released The Likes of Us is Dave Foster whose prior commitments prevented him from joining this tour – and he’s been ably replaced by guitarist Maria Barbieri. For anyone seeing this new line up for the first time, or listening / watching this release, Folklore is a fantastic intro because it not only shows the command, confidence and … well (occasional) comedy… that Alberto Bravin brings to the stage, but the solo section in the play out contain short solos from Lindley, Barbieri and Holldorff to show us that we are in safe hands for the duration of this concert.
Check out our interview with Alberto Bravin about the new live album and tour.
Of course BBT already have a number of live releases so let me split the songs in this set into a number of categories.
Songs being played before they were released – BBT took the atypical step of including two songs for the then yet to be released The Likes of Us album on this tour. That’s a brave move for any band to make but given that they had spent a large part of the year making the album, it makes sense! Audiences would have been hearing Love Is The Light and Oblivion for the very first time and, well, you only need to listen to the ending of the former track to hear that not only did they lap it up, but the Passengers choir sang along in full voice! Oblivion of course is a fast paced rock song which nestles perfecting within the set, and its immediacy makes up for any unfamiliarity.
Songs BBT have never played live before – With an enormous back catalogue and relatively few live shows to their name, at this point, there is the opportunity to delve back into the past. So, excluding the already mentioned new songs, on this album, and on this tour, it’s the first time out for: The Connection Plan (from WTTP), Keeper of Abbeys (from EE2), and A Boy In The Darkness (from EE1). Connection Plan’s chorus demonstrates the vocal prowess of this line up – and it’s great to hear Rikard’s guitar solo in this one, along with Clare and Maria doubling the main violin riff. A Boy in the Darkness shows the versatility of this line up as Rikard moves to key, and Greg plays 12 string. The middle section has fantastic soloing from all the instrumentalists and we can see why Maria’s performances on this tour were much loved by fans! Alberto brings his own interpretation to the lead vocal, navigating perfectly the line being being faithful to the original track, but also adding your own personality.
Shout out for the mid-show acoustic set – this involves Alberto (on keys), Nick and Rikard (on acoustic) and Clare, as they tackle 3 pieces in stripped back fashion, with each of the men taking lead vocals on one song. Particular shout out to Wassail as NDV shows his skills as a frontman by creating a party atmosphere – with all the heavy musical moments, it’s the perfect moment of levity!
The acoustic set is followed by a song from the final category: the familiar favourites / the songs that BBT have played live before – but of course I’ll qualify that by reminding readers that with BBT’s relatively small number of live appearances, this isn’t like Yes playing Roundabout or Purple playing Smoke on the Water for more than 50 years. No one is gonna leave disappointed that East Coast Racer is played. This line up can truly own this classic song – Alberto, mostly instrument free for this one, gives this performance his all and with the brass section on stage, it is, as ever, a fantastic rendition.
Of course in many cases previous live versions may have involved other band members. Hedgerow pops with energy and gets the audience singing along, and Apollo twists and turns in its musical complexity. Any song with the blast of the BBT horn section is going to be mesmerising and the band as a whole, particularly the newer band members, don’t approach this music as a recital – they keep an appropriate balance between the familiar parts that are required, and the correct amount of personal input / improvisation. The ending of Swan Hunter is a great example of Maria following the music in her exquisite guitar work.
The set closes with Judas Unrepentant (the audio version begins with all of the final night of the tour, in sequence, and is then followed by the 7 songs that the band played the previous night but didn’t repeat!) which in some ways is the best summary of the musical spread on display! Everyone gets a chance to shine on this one, but I’d particularly single out Alberto Bravin’s vocal on this track. One of David Longdon’s masterpieces (in my opinion), it takes a lot to skill to deliver this song vocally. Alberto leads us smoothly on that journey, before giving way to the band members soloing abilities across many areas.
I’ve mostly mentioned the sounds but it goes without saying that the visuals are excellent on the accompanying Blu ray. The band show incredible energy but … well watching this video it seems to me that BBT are having the time of their lives playing together – and that always part of the magic!
The album’s title derives from a term used to describe what happens when a strong light hits a lens system and is scattered in unusual ways. After many twists and turns, Big Big Train are still burning bright, and this set shows that their light has an impact every time it shines. Overall this is a fantastic looking and sounding showcase of the songs and the musical talents of Big Big Train. Do we need another BBT live set? Well … I do, and I suggest you do! I didn’t get to see this tour so I’m delighted that all the songs played are gathered here within this set, and I’m eagerly awaiting the 2024 European tour to hear some more!
Released on Sept. 13th, 2024 on InsideOutMusic
Order ‘A Flare On The Lens’ and stream ‘A Boy in Darkness’ here: https://bigbigtrain.lnk.to/AFlareOnTheLens-Live
The full tracklisting is:
1. Folklore*
2. The Connection Plan*
3. Curator of Butterflies*
4. Summoned by Bells*
5. Drums & Brass 2023*
6. Love Is The Light*
7. A Boy In Darkness*
8. Apollo*
9. Acoustic Medley
10. East Coast Racer*
11. Victorian Brickwork*
12. Oblivion
13. Swan Hunter
14. Keeper of Abbeys
15. Brooklands
16. Hedgerow
17. Telling the Bees
18. Judas Unrepentant
*included on 2LP vinyl release
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