GOODBYE TO THE AGE OF STEAM

"Goodbye to the Age of Steam" is the third full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Big Big Train. The album was released through Giant Electric Pea in 1994. It´s the successor to the 1993 demo album "The Infant Hercules" and features the exact same quintet lineup who recorded the predecessor.

A reissue/remastered version of the album was made available in 2011 through English Electric Recordings. The reissue/remastered version features three bonus tracks. "Far Distant Thing" is a remixed version of the track which originally appeared on "The Infant Hercules", "Expecting Dragons" is a new original track recorded by the 2010/2011 lineup of Big Big Train. It´s not all new though as it´s actually a re-arranged combination of "Dragon Bone Hill" and "Expecting Snow", which are both tracks which appear on the tracklist of the original 1994 version of "Goodbye to the Age of Steam". The last bonus track is an extended version of "Losing Your Way", which is the closing track on the 1994 version of "Goodbye to the Age of Steam".

Stylistically the sound on "Goodbye to the Age of Steam" is the natural progression from the two preceding demo albums. A slightly more mature progressive rock sound meets the listener´s ears, but it would be stretching it to call the material on "Goodbye to the Age of Steam" the sound of a fully mature Big Big Train. You get all the core ingredients of the band´s sound here though. Subtle technical playing/intriging progressive parts, focus on melody and melancholic atmospheres, and generally high level musicianship. It´s all packed in a relatively well sounding production job, but the production could have prospered from a more organic and meaty tone. It´s maybe a bit thin sounding for comfort.

So upon conclusion "Goodbye to the Age of Steam" is a good quality progressive rock release, but it´s not outstanding or anything out of the ordinary for the genre. Late 70s Genesis and early- to- mid 80s neo-progressive rock fans will find features here to enjoy, but Big Big Train still had some work to do at this point before they would reach the big leagues. a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong.