BELIEVE – World Is Round (2011)

Mirek Gil and the other BELIEVE members are certainly obsessed with mesmerizing melodies.
Since 2006, this band from Poland have refined this trademark, over the course of four studio albums in the meanwhile.
And with “World Is Round”‘ they basically remain faithful to their principles and have recorded a fine album once more.

Classified as Lite-Prog or Neo-Prog, BELIEVE is in fact more than that, sounding very close to Satellite, Marillion and some british bands in this style, with many Rock&Pop passages with a melodic, melancholy vibe.

In order to offer contrasting moments some songs are also provided with a rather heavy attitude, mainly caused by Mirek Gil’s guitar riffs and solo excursions.
I would point out “Guru” and “Cut Me Paste Me” here, where Karol Wróblewski (male) proves that his voice is a big affair, not only silky exclusively.
“No Time Inside” features a stomping rhythm, the drum playing is minimalistic, very effective anyhow – everything is focused on the main melody and vocals, keyboards, some violin and even guitar are used with caution here.
Now speaking of charming moments the title track “World Is Round” deserves the pole position – keyboard strings and a celestial violin are backing.

Showing a more sophisticated arrangement I would count “Lay Down Forever” and “Bored” as really typical for the whole Satellite / Collage family.
Furthermore with “New Hands” you won’t miss an exemplary ballad featuring acoustic guitar, piano, marching drums … plus wonderful organ and mellotron add-on towards the end. This one and “So Well” (featuring some of Gil’s finest guitar work) has a Marillion feel, sounding particularly Hogarth-esque.
The album’s last double-song “Poor King Of Sun / Return” is decorated with an oriental flavor based on violin and sitar with a Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir atmosphere – starting somewhat innocent but evolving to a top-notch neo prog classic just as the complete band starts to intervene.

“World Is Round” is full of fine arrangements and heart-wrenching melodies, drifiting into popular territories while retaining some Lite-Prog elements.
Obviously the band is trying to conquer a wider audience, most of the tracks here are relatively short and accessible.
The album is perfectly produced and mixed, and the addition of non traditional instruments offers some magnificent additional colours to the final product.
Something different to taste.

01 – Intro: World Is Round (part 1)
02 – No Time Inside
03 – World Is Round (part 2)
04 – Cut Me Paste Me
05 – Lay Down Forever
06 – So Well
07 – Bored
08 – Guru
09 – New Hands
10 – Poor King Of Sun / Return

Karol Wróblewski : Vocals
Mirek Gil : Guitar, Sitar
Przemas Zawadzki : Bass
Vlodi Tafel : Drums, Percussion
Satomi : Violin
Konrad Wantrych : Keyboards, Mellotron

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