The Likes of Us (Big Big Train album)

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The Likes of Us
Studio album by
Released1 March 2024
RecordedMay–June 2023
Studio
GenreProgressive rock
Length64:17
LabelInside Out
ProducerBig Big Train
Big Big Train chronology
Ingenious Devices
(2023)
The Likes of Us
(2024)

The Likes of Us is the fifteenth studio album by English progressive rock band Big Big Train, released on 1 March 2024. It is the band's first album of new material with singer Alberto Bravin and keyboardist Oskar Holldorff who joined in 2022[1] and 2023[2] respectively,[3] as well as the first album since The Difference Machine without singer David Longdon, who died in 2021.[4] It is the first album to be released on progressive label InsideOut Music, which the band signed to in July 2023,[5] having self released several of their albums before.[6]

Track listing[edit]

The Likes of Us track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Light Left in the Day"Gregory Spawton6:10
2."Oblivion"Nick D'Virgilio
5:27
3."Beneath the Masts"Spawton
  • Bravin
  • D'Virgilio
  • Spawton
17:26
4."Skates On"SpawtonSpawton4:28
5."Miramare"
  • Bravin
  • Spawton
Bravin10:17
6."Love Is the Light"
  • Bravin
  • Spawton
  • Bravin
  • Daniele Dibaggio
6:11
7."Bookmarks"Spawton
  • Bravin
  • Spawton
6:23
8."Last Eleven"SpawtonSpawton7:55
Total length:64:17
Streaming version bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
9."Miramare" (Single Edit)
  • Bravin
  • Spawton
Bravin 
Total length:73:16

Personnel[edit]

Big Big Train

  • Alberto Bravin – lead vocals, piano, organ, keyboards, guitars, 12-string guitars, production, mixing (all tracks); brass arrangement (tracks 1, 5, 6)
  • Nick D'Virgilio – drums, percussion, 12-string acoustic guitar, vibraphone, vocals, production (all tracks); brass arrangement (track 3)
  • Dave Foster – guitars, 12-string guitars, vocals, production
  • Oskar Holldorff – piano, organ, synthesizers, keyboards, vocals, production (all tracks); string arrangement (track 7)
  • Clare Lindley – violin, vocals, production (all tracks); string arrangement (track 5)
  • Rikard Sjöblom – guitars, 12-string guitars, organ, keyboards, vocals, production
  • Gregory Spawton – bass guitar, bass pedals, 12-string acoustic guitar, Mellotron, production

Big Big Train Brass Ensemble

  • Dave Desmond – brass arrangement, trombone (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)
  • Ben Godfrey – trumpet, piccolo trumpet (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)
  • Nick Stones – French horn (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)
  • Jon Truscott – tuba (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6)

Additional contributors

  • Rob Aubrey – engineering, mixing, mastering
  • Sarah Louise Ewing – original cover, gatefold artwork
  • Massimo Goina – photography
  • David Lord – engineering
  • Brian Mullan – cello
  • Bruce Soord5.1 and Dolby Atmos mixing
  • Steve Vantsis – design, layout
  • Fulvio Zafret – engineering

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for The Likes of Us
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[7] 24
Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 82
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 63
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[11] 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ewing, Jerry (27 April 2022). "Big Big Train announce Alberto Bravin as new lead singer". louder. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ^ Ewing, Jerry (15 January 2023). "Multi-instrumentalist Carly Bryant quits Big Big Train". louder. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ^ Ewing, Jerry (8 December 2023). "Big Big Train announce brand new album The Likes Of Us". louder. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ^ Lewry, Fraser (1 March 2024). ""An album of genuine warmth and quiet wonder – and if it's a little safe, well, that's understandable": Revamped Big Big Train return with The Likes Of Us". louder. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  5. ^ Ewing, Jerry (31 July 2023). "Big Big Train sign new multi-album deal with InsideOut Music". louder. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  6. ^ "The Likes Of Us". Big Big Train. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 11 March 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1775. Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 March 2024. p. 10.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Big Big Train – The Likes of Us". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2024.