WORLD IS ROUND

After the relative disappointment that was The Bread is Mine I kind of lost interest in Believe. And my curiosity was only spurred when I read so many glowing reviews about their 2017 release, Six Widows. After checking that CD and founding a neo prog masterpiece, I was keen to go back and listen to the previous two they had produced in 2011 and 2013. Although it was clear that 2013´s The Warmest Sun In Winter was already in the Six Widows direction, but lacking Satomi´s violin on most of the tracks, World Is Round is more subtle, but still shows the sound that the band would create so successfully a little later.

At first I did not enjoy the album very much, it reminded me too much in the style of The Bread is Mine, but like another reviewer here said, after a few spins you start to get it: the music is very good, deceptively simplistic and full of details. It is a step forward into the right direction, with better songwriting and more personality. Ok, there are a couple of tracks that some passages spoil the overall effect, falling in the traps of their recent past like the heavy/grunge traits of Cut Me paste Me and Guru, but most of the time the flowing is good and the new tunes are superior than the previous effort. The last track, Poor Sun King/ Return is an almost 10 minute suite that starts with indian sounds, complete with sitar, and develops into a great build up with several changes climaxing with a fine melody played by Satomi and ending with a gentle piano. Great prog stuff, even if not exactly bombastic. The ballad New Hands is another highlight, featuring singer Karol Wróblewsk´flute, exquisite violin lines and subtle keys. It shows more clearly the direction the band would go from then on.

With a good production, more personality and stronger cuts, World Is Round may not be exactly Believe´s best CD, but it is still a fine work and well worth checking out (specially if you liked its follow ups). It may take a little while to get it, but once you do, you´ll be rewarded with some real fine, melodic symphonic prog where they prove the motto less is more is really a valid statement.

Rating: something between 3,5 and 4 stars. Even with a couple of missteps this CD is still above mere very good. Recommended.