How absolutely brilliant-and unbelievably wonderful-The Likes Of Us has become! After previous releases that showcased David Longdon’s vocal and musical talents to the world, last year there was already the album Ingenious Devices, which was more than new instrumental renditions with orchestra of some Longdon songs: it also showcased Atlantic Cable in a live performance with David’s now warmly welcomed successor, Alberto Bravin. Those who had the pleasure of already seeing the band live in this line-up were mostly already impressed by Alberto’s vocals, stage presence and instrumental prowess of the likeable Italian singer.

Live, he simply knew how to steal the hearts of the band’s fans, through his open, relaxed attitude, his passion on stage, his vocal abilities and his reverent performance of the songs written by, for and with David. Incidentally, without ever throwing himself too exaggeratedly into the role of David’s successor. Above all, Alberto put a lot of care into singing those songs. The Likes Of Us shows that Alberto and the band also feel each other seamlessly in the studio and that even in this constellation, the collaboration leads to very beautiful songs.

The album opens with Light Left In The Day and it’s a song that will open the hearts of many a prog-lover wide and, for fans of the band, will make their mouths drop all over the place; it simply can’t get much proggier. Opening very quietly with acoustic guitar and Alberto’s voice, the Big Big Train Brass Ensemble soon joins in, after which fine keyboards are played and a lovely guitar part comes in as well. A little later, the drums join in and a violin cuts through the mix. The instrumental part goes wild and, as a progger, you imagine yourself in seventh heaven. Yes, proggers may have to get used to the presence of horns, but then that means that this is about the first thing you ever hear from Big Big Train. It really is thoroughly enjoyable and a song of these proportions makes you long for more. It is not excessively long, but what a lot happens in these just over six minutes.

Oblivion shows the rock side of the band. And how! Alberto gets to use his voice just a little bit rawer and that is also what the guitars do in this song. Deliciously drummed by Nick D’Virgilio and interspersed with beautiful keyboard parts. Also don’t forget to enjoy here what Greg Spawton lays down as Nick’s bass counterpart. And vocals? Yes, knowing how strong the various voices within the band are, they can’t help but make those voices sound brilliant together as well. And does that work in a rocking setting too? That’s a big yes! What a great driving song. And it has to be said, it’s great to hear how Alberto manages to sound both a bit more subdued here and then lashes out again.

Progressive rock without epic songs? Well, it does exist, but Big Big Train made a name for itself with precisely very interesting drawn-out songs that were characterised by beautiful parts each and often with a historical or thematic core guiding the story the song told. Beneath The Masts is a narrative song, but one with personal content. Greg wrote the song with reference to masts in the area where he grew up, a nostalgic angle, which comes together in the song with the melancholy of returning to that area because his stepfather fell seriously ill. It almost feels like Greg  already wanted to capture that in his bass playing in this song. This is a song that, in its build-up of more than 17 minutes, needs to be listened to several times to fully get it.

It’s a song that slowly unfolds, with the band playing great with their type of vocal variety. Fine vocal lines for Alberto, but also for the other voices. Yes, it is immediately clear that you are listening to Big Big Train, at the same time, it feels like the band sounds more eager, fresher, as if the new members have made the band’s sound more open. The instrumental passages especially in this song make the band sound even more driven than before and, for that matter, more aggressive, heavier. This may take some getting used to if you are used to mainly pastoral sounds ánd expect them, but it is very fitting. It radiates a daring that suits the band, which perhaps also shows that the band knows very well where they have come from, what legacy they have at their disposal and that they also dare to look and work ahead, straight into the wind. Very, very beautiful song! How beautiful also the ending of the song; it begs to be listened to live! The mere thought of that is enough to leave you with goosebumps.

Skates On once again underlines the Carpe Diem nature that shines through in the album. A beautiful song that bridges the previous epic track and the Miramare that follows. Like Oblivion, the band had released this before, albeit in a shortened version. It carries everything that makes Big Big Train’s music. Again, it is narrative and man, man, man, what’s special about the choice of Alberto is that the inspiration he puts into his vocals seems to have an involuntary resemblance to his predecessor. That’s not a comparison the band ever sought, it is what it is. And, let it be clear, Alberto is really himself and does not imitate anyone. Great again, the band’s signature singing together, the construction of the song, the use of the Brass Ensemble. Yes, this is really quite enjoyable.

The effect of recording together, playing live together, is that what you hear on The Likes Of Us? You can so imagine Clare Lindley’s impressive violin part on stage. Especially if, in addition, you imagine Rikard Sjöblom raging on his guitar. Of course, the band also simply has a host of classy instrumentalists with great voices on board, because in addition to the aforementioned, Oskar Holldorff (also known from Dim Gray) and Dave Foster also collaborated, all of them definite masters at their craft. With them, even a lighter song like Love Is The Light is in good hands. OK, it is not a song that is a model for the great variety in the band’s songs, but in its build-up, in the orchestration, in the harmony vocals, this is also just a fine song that, above all, once again shows exactly how good Alberto is. And that here is really something to get quiet about.

Bookmarks once again underlines Alberto’s qualities. And it is a song that can grab you firmly by the throat. The vocal lines are of a beauty that we have come to love with this very band. This is simply very beautiful. The acoustic guitar as the main accompaniment here is very nice, especially in the first part of the song, but the song as a whole is very beautiful.

The band closes the album with the song in which we were first introduced to Big Big Train’s new singer, which was Last Eleven. This completes the circle: it is nice that the band has thus captured this very song on this album. It was an impressive introduction to Alberto’s vocals in a new song by the band ánd it is now a fittingly impressive conclusion. It will have cost the band enough headaches, blood, sweat and tears in dwelling on the question at the time of whether they would want to continue or not. The Likes Of Us confirms the band’s choice to continue ánd moreover shows that after the dark period of the loss of David, whose memory clearly travels with the band, there was still a lot of glowing, vital and fascinating music left in the creative minds. The Likes Of Us is now the band’s fifteenth album, it is an album that can simultaneously be counted among their best five! Astonishingly beautiful!