It’s a reflection on the quality experience of singing to an audience, no doubt drawn from David’s experience of doing just that: “I hit the stage as they strike up the band, the audience moves to the beat. Thankfully, Big Big Train have chosen to continue, albeit in a different configuration and one that pays tribute to their deeply missed colleague. One thing I must note, and it pains me to say this, is that David not only seems to change genre, he also changes his vocal style somewhat. 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. Il grande frontman dei Big Big Train ci ha lasciati un anno fa, ma non prima di dare libero sfogo alla sua arte con questo album solista di indubbio valore, nel quale la sua voce inimitabile (anche se a lungo era stato accusato di "imitare" Peter Gabriel, Fish dei Marilllion e altri celebri cantanti del progressive più illuminato) valorizza al meglio alcuni brani bellissimi.

Door One was recorded with a core of four musicians: drummer Jeremy Stacey (King Crimson, Noel Gallagher, Sheryl Crow, The Finn Brothers), bassist Steve Vantsis (best known for his work with Fish), saxophonist Theo Travis (Steven Wilson, Soft Machine, Gong) and David’s longstanding friend and former 1990s Gifthorse band mate Gary Bromham (Bjork, Sheryl Crow, George Michael) who contributed guitar, backing vocals, keyboard parts and textures. He had been recording since April 2021, following the completion of Big Big Train’s Common Ground album. This is a difficult album if you knew the man but it’s wonderful to hear what he had been working on in these days before he left us.He had much greater range than even I had expected, and yet he always performed with class and muster.

The atmospheres and use of ambience were a huge source of inspiration and a big factor in the making of Door One. Completed by a working party of musicians closest to the multi-instrumentalist, spear-headed by co-producer/engineer, Patrick Phillips (Kate Bush, Van Morrison, Goldfrapp, Ludovico Einaudi). Approaching his debut solo record, Door One, I firmly decided to be as honest and sincere as I could, something I know David would have appreciated and especially due to the care this album has received by his friends.But probably expected as the album was nearly completed [but were there other tracks that were still to be recorded?