BIG BIG TRAIN Announces Arrival of "Ingenious Devices" EP, Including Re-Recording of Classic Tracks and More

UK prog rockers Big Big Train have announced today the release of their upcoming EP entitled “Ingenious Devices”. It features new versions of a trilogy of revered Big Big Train epic tracks – “East Coast Racer”, “Brooklands” and “Voyager.”

These tracks prominently feature an elite 17 piece string section recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. Apart from the late David Longdon’s lead vocals, which have been compiled from the original album sessions, “East Coast Racer” is a completely new studio version recorded by the line-up of the band as it was in 2019. “Brooklands” features newly recorded drums, bass and bass pedals, while “Voyager” includes additional guitar and violin. All three songs have been re-mixed for this release.

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Gregory Spawton explains: “I was always happy with the original recorded version of East Coast Racer, but adding the strings at Abbey Road gave the song a further lift and the new recording also features Dave Gregory’s guitar solo on the closing section, a solo which has only previously featured on live performances of the song. I am pleased we now have the definitive studio version on Ingenious Devices. By contrast, I was never entirely satisfied with Brooklands and felt it got a bit overlooked on the Folklore album, which is perhaps why we’ve not played the song live yet. The Abbey Road strings have significantly enhanced the song and I’m delighted with the outcome. The changes to Voyager are more subtle but still elevate the song beyond the version on our Grand Tour album.”

Additionally “Ingenious Devices” includes a previously unreleased orchestral piece called “The Book of Ingenious Devices,” which links “East Coast Racer” and “Brooklands”, as well as a live version of “Atlantic Cable,” which was recorded on the band’s tour in September 2022.

“Ingenious Devices” EP Artwork

Alberto Bravin comments: “Atlantic Cable was recorded at our second show of the tour last year. It’s not an easy song to play at all and we were both amazed and relieved that we pulled it off so well. I experienced a real baptism of fire playing that show in front of over 1,000 passionate BBT fans, but their response to the song and the rest of our live set that night was truly motivating.”

Nick D’Virgilio says: “Ingenious Devices is a great way of uniting four of Big Big Train’s epic songs about technology. The album also celebrates the wonderful vocals of our late, great friend David Longdon on East Coast Racer, Brooklands and Voyager and looks forward to the future with Alberto putting in such a great performance on Atlantic Cable.”