Door One

Product Information

This album was completed carefully by four musicians: Jeremy Stacey (King Crimson, Eric Clapton, Noel Gallagher, Sheryl Crow, The Finn Brothers), Theo Travis (Steven Wilson, Soft Machine, Gong), Steve Vantsis (Fish) and Gary Bromham (Bjork, Sheryl Crow, George Michael). The cathartic lyrical arc here draws on some liberating hypnotherapy sessions Longdon had to treat his fear of flying, set to a strident, proggy, beautifully paced musical backdrop. Stacey is one of four main musicians featured, along with bassist Steve Vantsis, saxophonist Theo Travis and Longdon’s former band mate from Gift Horse, Gary Bronham who contributed many instruments to the album. It’s a great exposition of how the finest performances are a communion between performer and listener, with the singer as the focal point – and if you’ve been to a Big Big Train gig you’ll know exactly what David is talking about.

David, sadly, died - depriving BBT of an incredible voice and the wider rock world of a genuine genre-straddling vocalist. It won’t change the face of music or knock the world off its axis, but Hell, Fire And Damnation is yet another damned fine addition. I think that is reflected in Door One, as well, since it is something of a departure from David’s normal style. The brooding, piano-driven waltz Forgive (But Not Forget) looks back at one (‘ Our fate perhaps, or were we just ill-matched’), with a grand, expressive guitar solo and overwrought rhythmic variations adding to the drama.

He had been recording since April 2021, following the completion of Big Big Train’s Common Ground album. Sure, initially it does sound very much like BBT in their pomp, but on closer inspection the songs feel looser, more dynamic and rockier. This is a must download for every prog rock fan and thank you for releasing this album in 24/96, it sounds magnificent! It’s a good thing to know that this album was 95% complete at the time of David’s passing and so what we are hearing is pretty much his complete vision for this set of songs.

So from the tragedy of David’s death, we can find hope and purpose and celebrate his memory with this fine collection of songs. Catchier still is There’s No Ghost Like An Old Ghost, a consideration of past regrets, secrets and lies (‘ The loose ends you’d left unaddressed’) and their nasty habit of resurfacing later in life, ‘ with bones to pick and an axe to grind’. This is a fine second track and it is a joy to hear David’s voice as he swoops and soars in a familiar manner, the song is certainly stirring with some great guitar. Plus we see how it affected the family, both literal and the band-family – our “loss” in no way compares to their… but we feel it. There are some inspirational musical passages in this mix of songs that were 90% complete as a solo work before he passed.

Birdsong, echoing piano and a building cinematic atmosphere characterise instrumental prelude Into The Icehouse, an Eno-esque mood-setter that, in a kinder world, might have served well as intro music to a live show. He was very interested in the sonic textures created by David Bowie and Brian Eno in his Berlin Trilogy of albums. Door One is a solid album to end his time with us, and it was a pleasure to see a glimpse of his vision for a solo sound.

David released his first solo album, Wild River, back in 2004 but on joining Big Big Train, the band became his primary focus. There's a suppleness to the instrumentation on Door One that is often missing in BBT’s meticulously crafted music.Accepting the change that has occurred and facing it bravely whilst keeping the memory alive, even though the loved one has gone.