Believe - I love this album!
Believe?s new album ?Yesterday Is A Friend? is getting its first reviews. Below you can read a fantastic review done by Bob McBeath for one of the most important websites about progressive rock www.progarchives.com.
5 out of 5 - You've got to Believe
I love this album!
Polish band Believe follow up their acclaimed 2006 debut Hope to see another day with another fine neo-prog collection. The line up remains unchanged, with ex-College guitarist Mirek Gil developing the style of his former bands (including Satellite) while absorbing the influences of the other members' backgrounds. The album has a loose concept being based, in the bands words, on love, happiness, freedom, truth, faith - the most important things in everyone's life. (...)
Right from the opening Time it is clear that the attention to detail here in terms of arrangement and performance is exemplary. There is an extraordinary precision to the playing yet the album manages to retain true warmth and emotion.
We turn towards a darker side with Tumor, the violin of Satomi contributing to the remorseful atmosphere painted by the troubled lyrics. At 8 minutes, What they want (is my life) is the longest track on the album. The piece is founded on some astonishingly atmospheric violin, the harmonised vocals being reminiscent of the softer side of Porcupine Tree. (...)
While there is a welcome diversity to the tracks on the album, it simultaneously benefits from a defined continuity. The instrumental diversity of the band is exploited through the varied leads on the instrumental breaks. (...)
Elsewhere, Memories paints a bleak picture of better times, Tomek Rozycki giving possibly his finest vocal performance. His quivering voice has echoes of Roger Chapman of Family, while retaining a much smoother, less confrontational mood. Indeed, the track reminds me in some ways of Family's The weaver's answer. The lead guitar work of Mirek Gil is the highlight instrumentally here. (...)
In all, Yesterday is a friend is a highly accomplished work. Believe have succeed in blending together strong melodies, diverse arrangements, and top-tier musicianship resulting in a supremely atmospheric and highly enjoyable album. As with the work of other top class neo prog and symphonic prog bands, the album only truly reveals itself after a number of listens. That said though, the initial impact of Yesterday is a friend is still one of unfettered delight. Strongly recommended.
Full review can be read here: http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=170892
Believe?s second full-length album entitled ?Yesterday Is A Friend? will be released by Metal Mind Productions on 19th May 2008 in Europe and 8th July 2008 in USA (via MVD).
The album will be available in two versions: as a standard CD and a digipak CD containing 3 bonus tracks.
