THE DIFFERENCE MACHINE

This UK formation is making albums since the early Nineties. Their previous effort entitled Gathering Speed (2004) already sounded more progressive than all the other albums but this new CD is a real progrock party, what a captivating music, loaded with interesting musical ideas and .. the Mellotron sounds quite omnipresent, you cannot beg for more!

On The Difference Machine the band has invited famous progrock guest musicians: Nick D'Virgilio (drums/vocals) and Dave Meros from Spock's Beard and Pete Trewavas (bass) from Marillion/Transatlantic. The album contains six compositions, three have a running time between 12 and 15 minutes and I can tell you, never a dull moment: from dreamy with violin-Mellotron and compelling with fiery guitar/choir-Mellotron/saxophone to a final part with propulsive guitar and organ in Perfect Cosmic Storm, an inspired contribution by Nick and Pete and great work on keyboards and guitar in the alternating Pick Up If You're There and wonderful choir-Mellotron in the moving Salt Water falling On Uneven Ground. The final track Summer's Lease emphasizes Big Big Train their compositional skills, especially creating pleasant atmospheres and a tasteful instrumentation: first a dreamy climate with twanging guitar, mellow organ and saxophone, then more compelling and lush with Mellotron and saxophone and in the end fragile work on the piano, beautiful!

This new CD is an interesting, tasteful and varied musical adventure that will appeal to many progrock fans, a big hand for Big Big Train!