Big Big Train English Electric Full Power – 2013 Originally issued as two separate albums and an EP, but clearly intended as one cohesive work, English Electric is simply my favourite album of the last ten years. Quintessentially English both…
View More The Decade in Review – Graham Thomas
As we approach the half way point of 2019 and enjoy the delights of many fabulous releases, members of The Progressive Aspect team, in collaboration with Anthony Rowsick’s radio programme Prog-Watch, have collected together their “Best Albums of 2019 (so…
View More Best of 2019 (So Far)….
I am a proud ‘Passenger’, a fan-boy, offering hero worship to the degree that I wish to give it. But there are no untouchable icons here, and in my view there never should be. So, initial thoughts are that anyone…
View More Big Big Train – Grand Tour
The Anvil, Basingstoke Wednesday 11th July 2018 Big Big Train have become something of a phenomenon in the last few years, gradually developing a very committed following through a combination of high quality progressive rock music and astute marketing, alongside…
View More Big Big Train / Beatrix Players
Loreley Amphitheatre, St. Goarshausen, Germany 13th to 15th July 2018 So here we are once again, Lovely Loreley…. Unfortunately, due to traffic, we missed the opening band – Deafening Opera – but made it to hear the final few songs…
View More Night of the Prog XIII, Loreley, Germany – “As it Happens” Photo Blog
As we approach the end of another exciting year of wonderful music and enjoyed the delights of many fabulous releases, The Progressive Aspect, in collaboration with Anthony Rowsick’s radio programme Prog-Watch, have collected together our “The Best Albums of 2017”.…
View More TPA Best Albums of 2017
Cadogan Hall, London Friday, 29th September 2017 A quick question about gig etiquette: Is it ever acceptable to stand at the edge of the balcony and shout at the band in mid-song because you can’t hear them properly? That’s what…
View More Big Big Train
As a reviewer, I try to wield the Sword of Truth while wearing the Trousers of Objectivity. No fawning and grovelling from me – fearless, searing honesty is my only approach. Publish and be damned is my philosophy. Just because…
View More Big Big Train – Grimspound
Difficult. A favoured band, gigs I actually attended, and memories that resurface with the playing of the album. Well, I could gush, wallow, say how beautiful it is, or I could attempt to be neutral – at least until the…
View More Big Big Train – A Stone’s Throw From The Line
2016 has been another very good year for music at the progressive end of the spectrum, a bumper crop of new releases to digest, and assimilate. On the down side, the genre has lost way too many of its heroes…
View More TPA Best Albums of 2016