Big
Big Train is a band that gives live performances not so often. So, the 3 live gigs
that they gave last year at Cadogan Hall, London, became sold-out immediately. And
those gigs were followed by this live album, that has been recorded during these
3 concerts.
Merchants
of Light can be found as double CD, including 16 tracks, and a very detailed
and “rich” booklet. You also have the option of the 3-vinyl box set, or simply
the digital version.
The
16 track set is pulled from the band’s last 5 albums, Grimspound, Folklore, The Underfall Yard
and English Electric I & II. (But 9 out of the 16 songs are from Folklore
and Grimspound). (Also, I was surprised
to see that they didn’t include any song from their latest album The Second
Brighter Star, which came out just a few months after Grimspound).
The
album opens with a string overture, before kicking into a rocking version of
Folklore. Right after that, it’s time for
the wonderful 12-minute-long epic Brave Captain, which happens to be one of my
favourites. Song after song the band becomes better and better, until we reach
to Swan Hunter, which is one of the best songs this band ever recorded and one
of the album’s highlights.
David
Longdon’s voice is excellent, and the whole band gives a flawless performance.
And when I say “the whole band” I mean 10 people on stage, including a horn
session. And despite the difficulties, the mix and the production are simply
excellent, and the album sounds perfect!
Merchants
of Light is not just a live album, it is an experience. It captures one
of the world’s best modern Progressive Rock bands at their very best.
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