There’s only a few days now before the band start playing their summer shows (details here). But before that, and right now, Mark is up front and centre talking about the the writing and recording of the bands upcoming new album…

WebMaster: How much fun are you having recording another album? Does it feel different to when you were doing the first one?
Mark: It’s a lot of fun. It’s a rather nice feeling knowing that there are people waiting to hear what we come up with. The thing is, with “Wired to Earth” it started off as an experiment. We were learning and playing all these prog covers and just thought we should have a go at writing our own stuff. If it didn’t work then it was no big deal. Now people are waiting to see what we do next, it is a big deal that we get it right and make the best album we possibly can.

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The band’s summer tour is only a few weeks away now (see here). Ahead of that, we have the 3rd update on the recording of the new album, this time from than band’s amazing drummer, Doug Mussard…

WebMaster: How much fun are you having recording another album? Does it feel different to when you were doing the first one?

Doug: Recording the new material has been a real pleasure. I can’t wait for people to hear it because there are some great tracks on this record. It feels completely different to Wired To Earth. We’ve approached this album carefully and not rushed it at all. I think that because we had such kind reviews and interest in what were doing, we thought we need to take more time crafting the songs.
 
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With album 2 now on the visible horizon,  Dan talks about how well the recording is going, and the fun the band are having putting it together…

WebMaster: How much fun are you having recording another album? Does it feel different to when you were doing the first one?
Dan: The fun level is off the scale. It’s wonderful to be back experiencing what happens when we all get together and just make some creative noise. The outcome has been really satisfying and I think there’s a decent possibility of a relatively special album, at least personally.
It’s a very different vibe to the first album, for me at least, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say that with ‘Wired to Earth’ we were experimenting and seeing what we could produce between the 4 of us. To be honest, it was nerve wrecking. Here I am working with my guitar hero, which is nerve wrecking enough, but also remembering that Dave Gregory spent most of his career working with someone who’ll be remembered as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. So getting into rehearsals and saying ‘ I wrote a little tune, want to hear it?’ was daunting to say the least, but Dave was gracious to say the least, in fact it was a real eye opener for me. Present Dave with an idea and he brings so much to it. It is different now, we’re much more comfortable presenting ideas than we were before, which in itself leads to more ideas.

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Good news everyone, the follow up to Wired To Earth is well and truly on the way and by all accounts, the recording sessions are going extremely well. To get a better idea of how things are going, a few fun questions were flung at the band, and the responses are now coming back. Up first is… Dave Gregory!

WebMaster: How much fun are you having recording another album? Does it feel different to when you were doing the first one?
Dave: I always have fun playing with these guys. I actually prefer rehearsing to recording; no pressure! Studios can be very intimidating places at times, even after doing it for so long. But we’ve cut the last couple of tracks live with Mitch Keen in the studio, which has been quite liberating for all of us. Something certainly happens when we all play together, and the results on playback confirm that.
I recorded most of my solos on ‘Wired To Earth’ at home, after the basic tracks had been cut. For the next record I’ll be going back into the studio with Mitch to do solos and overdubs, which I will write ‘in stone’ beforehand.

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Hi all

Just a little update on the writing for album 2.

Another new song pretty much in the bag. We’re all really proud of this one, it’s going to sound great I think.

It initially felt like a little transition piece but ended up being 6 minutes once we got into it.

Spent last night working up Dave’s piece in 14 (!) by adding a big chorus and also tinkered with an ambient middle 8 type thing.

Had a listen to my little recorder (music recorder not the flute thingy from school days passed) on the drive home and it sounds exciting. I think we can turn it into something really special.

I have to say at this point we appear to be on a roll of good stuff and although the end seems a way away we’re very exiting about sharing these with you as soon as we can.

I’d just like to add that the new Big Big Train album featuring Dave is now available here http://www.bigbigtrain.com/main/shop

In my humble opinion it is a truly great album.

All the best

Mark