I have to admit to not really being all that familiar with Believe. I had 2008’s Yesterday Is A Friend Of Mine at one time, but sold it off as I made a promise to me (and my wife) that I would get rid of any disc(s) that I could live without. Believe isn’t a bad band by any stretch of the imagination. Nothing really grabs me by the throat. So, when the opportunity to review their new album, World Is Round, presented itself, I thought I’d give them one more chance. Mixed reviews, I’m afraid.
I’ve listened to this about three or four times, and although the music is very solid with good execution and deep production, I find it a bit too 2 dimensional for my tastes as it pertains to progressive music. Darker prog isn’t necessarily lost on me. I enjoy Riverside and Porcupine Tree quite a lot. What separates bands like that from Believe is there are variations that distinguish one song from the next. What I’ve heard from Believe just doesn’t set them apart. Push the envelope a little bit.
“Cut Me, Paste Me” is a very interesting and heavy track, which could be my favorite because they do switch things up a bit. The same goes with “Guru”, with its middle eastern landscapes painted by violinist Satomi. I’d like to hear more of this, which has that dark tone, but has a bit more character. “New Hands” is a lot less sinister and more melodic and sweet, which is a nice switch. I enjoy this song a lot.
If you’re familiar and can appreciate Believe, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this disc. It’s just not something that I would actively seek out. I can appreciate what they’re trying to accomplish, and maybe they have to some listeners. With me, however, I just don’t hear anything that harnesses my attention. I’ll continue to listen and maybe one day it’ll click with me. Now, however, I’m still searching with Believe.
Reviewed by Eric Walker on December 11th, 2010
