BELIEVE

This album is surely a good album in the vein of neo prog music. By design this album had some sort of bombastic approach especially when I read Nick Barrett's views about this album. Reading it I expected something bombastic as well in delivering this album to the ears of prog lovers. What came out was something that I did not feel really outstanding even though it's not bad at all. When I first listened to the opening track "Believe" with its richness of textures using female chanting combined with ambient music using keyboard, it really blew me away at first spin.

What then a bit disappointed me was the connecting part with next track that follows "No Place For The Innocent" which to me does not work out smoothly and it needs further polishing, I think. This is not to say that stand alone this song is a good one to enjoy. I got only problem with its transition to the second track.

"The Wisdom of Solomon" is a nice track with tight composition combining nice vocal of Nick Barrett and mellow guitar solo in neo prog vein. The music flows in excellent way even though the texture of the song seems so empty as it sounds like guitar solo only and other instruments serve as rhythm section.

Next is an epic "The Wishing Well" which comprises four parts namely: "For Your Journey" - 4:30; "So by sowest" - 6:48; "We Talked" - 5:29; and "Two Roads" - 4:17. It's a good epic with thematic narration by Barrett augmented through keyboard work during opening part. Female chanting sounds softly at the back. The acoustic guitar work combined with flute-like sounds enrich the textures of this epic.

The album concludes with two tracks "Learning Curve" (6:34) and "The Edge Of The World" (8:15) which both have strong composition and good textures through the use of flute-like sounds.

Overall, this is a good neo prog album. The only problem that I have is that I tend to get bored when I listen to this album in its entirety. It's probably this album does not offer sufficient hike-up points in its overall composition. But it's worth owning the CD as the album has good melody of its composition. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

i-Rock! presents: ANGRA Live in Jakarta, October 16, 2006. Be there!