BELIEVE

The first thing you will notice about this new Pendragon release is that the sound and mood of the album is a lot darker than previously. Don't get me wrong, it still has the melody and emotion of previous Pendragon albums, but there is an edginess this time round. So is that good or bad? In my opinion it is refreshing, although i did miss the guitar/keyboard interplay between Nick barrett and Clive Nolan at first. Like all great albums, "Believe" offers more and more on repeated listenings. The title track starts off with a very dark Easterny feel, which gives way to some heartfelt ethnic vocal stylings ushering in that Pendragon emotion. Nick Barrett then chimes in with some talkbox ( Steely dan - Haitian Divorce stylee ) and then we are into "No Place For The Innocent" which is a departure for Pendragon in the respect that it is a straight ahead hard rocking song. And a very good one it is too, with Nicks vocals showing added strength and depth. The previous haunting vocal stylings return at the beginning of "Wisdom Of Solomon" with some nice Andy Latimer flavoured guitar, before going into the main body of the song, with some exceptional acoustic guitarwork and strong vocals. The sound of the track has a brilliant mix of angst and that reassuring Pendragon sound as Mr Barrett sounds off about political correctness. "The Wishing Well" is the epic on the album, clocking in at over 20 minutes, and in 4 parts. The first part "For Your Journey" is awash with emotion and everything that is great about Pendragon, but with a difference. The narration by Nick Barrett is emotive and tearjerking, four minutes of a pendragon wonderland. The second part "Sou by Sou'west" to me is very Camel-like in places, in their "Stationary Traveller" era, but far from being derivative. Great vocal melodies, great musicianship and strong songwriting are the keywords here. "We Talked" is next up, with some more nice acoustic guitar work from Mr Barrett, with an underlying Beatles-eaque sound. The song continues into a more harder rocking vein with the whole band really going for the throat. Pendragon to drive your car to? YUP. The final part "Two Roads" is my current favourite ( Although i can see that changing the more i play the album ) This is Pendragon at their emotional best Again what strikes me is how well Nicks vocals sound. The muic is simply Pendragon, a heartfelt slide guitar solo and some excellent playing from the rest of the guys - excellent "Learning Curve" the penultimate track has the feel of some of the work on "The Jewel" which isn't a bad thing at all.....In fact it's bloody great. The final track "The Edge Of The World" closes the album, with both power and emotion. Nick Barrett has always had an exceptional talent for writing songs that bring tears to the eyes, and this one is no exception. All in all a surprisingly different and brilliant album from the Pendragon lads, and as i previously said, an album that reveals more with every listen. So what are you doing looking gleefully interested? BELIEVE! and BUY!