FAR SKIES DEEP TIME

I've only discovered this band about three months ago and I've picked up four of their releases to date. My most recent acquisition is the "Far Skies Deep Time" EP and I have to say, what a marvellous collection of songs/progressive music and a fitting follow on from the magnificent "The Underfall Yard". Each composition is totally different from the others but they are all equally powerful in their excellent sound, production, melody and musical variation. The sheer quality of this body of work compels repeated plays.

The cd starts with a cover of Ant Phillips' "Master of Time" and Big Big Train do a fabulous job, moving easily from quiet melodic sounds of David Longdon's vocals and flute to the more urgent guitar work later in the song.

"Fat Billy Shouts Mine" is the second track and it is pure prog rock with guest Martin Orford, formally of IQ, showing just how good he is on keyboards.

The third track, "British Racing Green" again showcases David Longdon's powerful melancholic vocal talent and evokes memories of love gone wrong, which I'm sure we've all experienced some time in the past. Again there is some fine flute play, suitably accompanied by piano to finish off a short but very pleasing piece.

"Brambling" at the beginning, continues on with the softer side of Big Big Train's sound but it builds later and contains some fine guitar work that any accomplished practitioner would be proud of.

The fifth and last song is "The Wide Open Sea", a tiny taste of which we got on the album "The Difference Machine". This is progressive rock music at its best in every respect. It has obviously been put together with great care and attention to detail and finishes the cd with a decadent flourish.

Each listening reveals something new in this cd. It contains real music, composed and played by accomplished musicians and I can't recommend it highly enough.