BELIEVE

In case you don't know Pendragon yet, they are a 4-piece from Norfolk (UK) with main composer Nick Barrett on guitars and vocals. They released their first album back in 1985; an album called The Jewel (from which a remastered 20th anniversary edition has been released, with 2 bonus tracks and new cover art). Since that year they have released jewel after jewel. Kowtow - their second album - was the first featuring Clive Nolan (Arena, Shadowland, Strangers On A Train...) on keys. Most fans agree each album is an improvement on the previous one, culminating finally in the fabulous "Not Of This World". With their new release "Believe" it wasn't easy (or shall i say impossible??) to meet up with the standards set with previous albums. But i was wrong! So wrong! I should have known better, cause "impossible" is not in Pendragon's dictionary. And i should have known better, cause same as with the release of "Not Of This World" i thought "Masquerade Overture" was the best thing these guys could ever do. But let's go back to the present...

The album's intro is very unconventional with a Celtic feel: a woman singing in Gaelic, some unearthly sound samples ... and then a voice saying "And now everybody to the dance floor!" and track 2 "No Place For The Innocent" starts, which is in strong contrast with the athmospheric intro. A powerful rocking track it is, really a song with balls. "The Wisdom Of Solomon" is a 7min epic with great acoustic guitar: a song about political correctness. It also becomes more and more obvious Pendragon's sound has changed; maybe the most drastic change since 1991's "The World". But longtime fans, don't worry: you'll still recognise your favourite band.

Then comes the real epic: "The Wishing Well". The kind of epics you'd wish every prog band would be capable making (but sadly enough only very few can). All the elements you always loved about Pendragon are in here, all the different athmospheres flowing organicly and smootly into each other, but also a few surprises ... i will say no more: you will just love this!!

"Learning Curve" has a slight jazzy feel, again a new influence in this spectacular album. Finally "The Edge Of The World" closes the album with a mix of the best acoustic and electric guitar you can expect.

All in all, i think Believe is going to be a big surprise for Pendragon fans and prog fans in general.It's a breathe of fresh air in the often musty smelling prog world of today. And like always with Pendragon: the long waiting for each release is rewarded with music of an impeccable quality!

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