BE

After being slightly disappointed by the material that I heard on Remedy Lane I was afraid that the band have gone entirely into the metal territory and left the magic of The Perfect Element Part 1 behind them. This was of course not so and Be was there to prove it!

It took me a lot more time to get into this album than any of their previous releases but that had, for most part, to do with the rather complicated subject matter that the album's concept deals with. Originally there were quite a few professional critics that bashed Be for being over the top in everything it dealt with. Be it the instrumental arrangements or its story. Well let's get this critique out of the way once and for all, shall we?

It's vital to remember that this record is first and foremost a concept album and everyone who doesn't understand its somewhat sophisticated subject matter is bound to dislike the overall experience. I know that I had the exact same issue when I heard The Perfect Element Part 1 but that album's material works well on the track-by-track basis while Be fits in an entirely different bracket.

This is one of those albums where the individual tracks might not be all that spectacular but once it's all combined and put in the right order the fluent story magic will take over and lift the material to new heights. I'm talking about albums like The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and God In Three Persons, which are by the way two of my favorite concept albums by far. Guess what, Be fits into this very exclusive club of the greatest concept albums ever recorded!

I really like this album's introduction, it's actually an ingenious way to start a concept album when you think about it. Let me explain: The two minute long Animae Partus ("I Am") consists of voices talking about themselves while we hear different parts of the album played underneath all the narration. Remember that this first track is here for a reason because it's actually a riddle that the listener has to solve before going further into the story. Here are a few clues to get you started:

Who are these voices? What are they talking about? What do the words Traveled | Formed | Transition | Crossing the line | Drifting | Eternity mean in this particular context?

Got it? Good! Deus Nova is the second track and this is where the countdown begins. What you need to do here is to use the knowledge that you acquired in Animae Partus ("I Am") and apply it to the arc that is unfolding here. The last part of the track is another voice-over section where you have to collect additional clues. It all ends on the quote "I think they will teach me something..." and once Imago begins it's all practice from here on!

I agree that the musical arrangements are not on par with what the band has achieved on their previously releases but it's weighed up by the amazing concept. The whole two-part introduction reminds me of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway where first we are introduced to the setting through the title track while Fly On A Windshield unfolds the story arc. Then it's action from there on!

Be is a must have album for fans of concept albums but unfortunately the music itself is lacking which will definitely put some listeners off. Still it's among this band's best albums and therefore an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection!

***** star songs: Animae Partus ("I Am") (1:48) Deus Nova (3:18) Imago (Homines Partus) (5:11) Dea Pecuniae (10:10) Omni (2:37)

**** star songs: Pluvius Aestivus (5:00) Lilium Cruentus (Deus Nova) (5:28) Vocari Dei (3:50) Diffidentia (Breaching The Core) (7:37) Nihil Morari (6:22) Latericius Valete (2:28) Iter Impius (6:21) Martius,Nauticus II (6:41)

*** songs: Nauticus (Drifting) (4:58) Animae Partus II (4:09)