FROM STONE AND STEEL

Big Big Train is back. After the disappointment of 'Wassail', 'From Stone and Steel' is a breathtaking "new" album by Big Big Train ("BBT"). I say new because this is not a live album in the traditional sense but represents all the current members together in the studio playing some of the greatest songs in the BBT catalog. This is like a remaster coupled with a bit of reimagining the studio originals. Great songs like "Victorian Brickwork" and "The Underfall Yard" get a facelift while the production values are the best of BBT's history when listening in high resolution 96/24. Of particular note, Nick D'Virgilio's percussion has never sounded better on a BBT album.

'From Stone and Steel' also has a wonderful dynamic lacking in most albums today because instead of separate tracts recorded at different times and even different studios all the members of BBT (and guest musicians) were together to record these songs. While some may quibble about the song selection, I think this a must for any BBT fan or anyone looking to be introduced to this wonderful pastoral English progressive band.