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Kingmaker Publishing [Publication date 06.02.26]
Written to accompany the new album from Big Big Train, ‘Woodcut – The Making And The Meaning’ follows the gestation of what would result in the Progressive Rock band’s first concept album, through to the early recording sessions at Sweetwater Studios, following the conclusion of their U.S. and Canadian tour, in April 2025. From an idea born out of a visit to the Munch Museum in Oslo by Alberto Bravin and Gregory Spawton, Andy Stuart’s excellent book explains how that initial thought of, to quote Bravin, “there’s something here, isn’t there?” resonated with the rest of the cosmopolitan seven piece, resulting in a tale of darkness and light, hope and despair as we follow the main protagonist, a woodcut artist, on a journey through a tangled world of self doubt and fear.
The opening section provides a fascinating look at woodcut art itself, its use in Medieval book illustration through Japanese Ukiyo-e to Munch’s radical jigsaw prints; a history lesson that allows us to see how those traditions echo through Woodcut’s music and words.
Given unprecedented access to the band, Stuart is able to draw on a deep seam of candid and, at times, deeply personal interviews with all the members, to build the story of the making of the album. Bravin’s inspired arrangement of the many musical elements presented to him, as producer, to create a seamless musical journey through the sixteen tracks on the album is examined in depth. That the rest of the band had complete faith in their singer’s ability to deliver the goods is clear to see, even if at times it meant some of their compositional presentations were left on the cutting room floor.
Likewise, the development of the lyrics for each track is studied in forensic detail. The principal writers, Gregory Spawton and Clare Lindley are given free rein to explain the motivation behind their words; what inspired them, be it folklore or mysticism, historical facts or more personal moments. Everyone worked painstakingly together to ensure the narrative flowed smoothly, with Bravin’s suggestions taken on board to ensure the vocal delivery matched the need for each track.
Over 80 photographs are included within the 200 plus pages, mostly taken at Shearwater studios during the recording of the backing tracks, along with images of handwritten lyric notes. The finished lyrics are included in full and there are detailed credit notes for each track.
If you are buying the album, you should really be adding this book to your basket. Andy Stuart has produced, to steal a phrase from ancient Prog history, an outstanding and, yes, essential, ‘young persons guide to Woodcut’. As he himself says, the combination of book and album hark back to those days that many fans of a certain age, this reviewer included remember fondly “…sleeve notes, gatefold art and the feeling that an album – and now a book – can still be an adventure, not just something you scroll past”.
Review by Neil Pudney
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 26 January 2026
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Hell Or High Water (Journeyman Records)
TY FREEMAN One Way Love (indie)
GREY DAZE Monster You Adore (indie)
HOKKA Death By Cupids Arrow (Nuclear Blast Records)
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SAINT AGNES Song For Mia (Spinefarm)
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Featured Albums w/c 26 January 2026
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
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