Big Big Train is set to release their 15th studio album, The Likes Of Us, on March 1st, 2024, marking a significant moment for the internationally acclaimed progressive rock band. This album follows a challenging period for the group, grappling with the unexpected loss of lead vocalist David Longdon in late 2021. Introducing new frontman Alberto Bravin, formerly of Premiata Forneria Marconi, the album also signifies the band’s fresh collaboration with the record label InsideOutMusic, ending their nearly two-decade-long tradition of self-releasing music.
Expressing their excitement, the band states, “We are delighted to announce the release of ‘The Likes Of Us.’ After the events of the last few years, this is a particularly important album for us, both as a band and individually. We’re very proud of the new songs, which we recorded principally in a studio in Italy. Working together in one room brought additional inspiration, real energy and a clear sense of purpose. We’re thrilled with the results.”
To complement this announcement, the band has unveiled the first single, “Oblivion,” a track that captivated audiences during their UK and European tour in August and September 2023. The accompanying video, filmed by Tim Sidwell of Toward Infinity at Urban Recording Studio in Trieste, sets the stage for the album’s much-anticipated release.
In May 2023, six members of Big Big Train, spanning England, the United States, Sweden, and Norway, converged in Trieste, Italy, to record the basic tracks for The Likes Of Us. Choosing face-to-face collaboration over digital exchanges, the band found that the intimacy of this process unearthed moments of inspiration that might have otherwise remained unheard.
Drummer Nick D’Virgilio reflects on the emotional nature of the process, stating, “There were some tears; I cried a few of my own. There are many reasons to explain why we hadn’t worked that way in quite a while, but the process brought out the best in everybody.”
Two selections from the upcoming album, “Oblivion” and “Love Is The Light,” were introduced to audiences during the band’s recent tour, receiving an ecstatic response. The chemistry within the latest lineup, including Alberto Bravin, has yielded remarkable results, with bassist Gregory Spawton emphasizing the deep, personal connections embedded in the album’s narratives.
“We’ve got a great mix of people that want to be here and go the extra mile to do something very special,” concludes D’Virgilio. “There’s a big world of talented musicians out there, and luckily some of them want to hang out with us.”
‘The Likes Of Us’ will be available in various formats, including Dolby Atmos for the first time, mixed by Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief. The Limited CD & Blu-ray Mediabook edition features the album in 5.1 Surround Sound & 24-bit high-resolution stereo. Other formats include Gatefold 180g 2LP, Standard CD Jewelcase, and Digital Album. The album’s striking artwork, crafted by long-time collaborator Sarah Louise Ewing, with layouts by Steve Vantsis, adds visual depth to this highly anticipated album.
Musicians: Alberto Bravin on lead vocals, guitar, keyboards; Nick D’Virgilio on drums, percussion, vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, vocals; Dave Foster on guitars; Oskar Holldorff on keyboards, vocals; Clare Lindley on violin, vocals; Rikard Sjöblom on guitars, keyboards, vocals; Gregory Spawton on bass, bass pedals, 12-string acoustic guitar, Mellotron.