BEE YOURSELF

Second and best album from this Italian progressive rock band. I would describe the music of this album as neo-progressive with influences from jazz. Listening to this album I noticed influences from Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Genesis, Marillion and IQ. This album was released in 1990 but it doesn't sound dated today at all, probably thanks to the seventies and eighties sounds. The highlight of the album is the title track, an epic of 20 minutes which tells the story of a society of bees and the most important moment in the life of one male bee in peculiar. This masterpiece is based on a very beautiful piano melody that returns every now and then, interrupted by many changes in mood and rhythm. I never thought 20 minutes could end so soon. The Hackett-like guitar on this album is lovely but it's obvious that the keyboards take the leading role in all of the songs. But also the bass-player and especially the drummer are extremely talented. The voice of Andrea Amici (it's a boy) is typical for an Italian band, he reminds me of Francone Mussida the singer of the famous Italian band PFM when they released "Chocolate kings". No weak tracks on this album. Too bad there's just 40 minutes of music on this cd. If you ever get the chance to listen to this splendid album, do it !!!! You won't regret it.

A surprisingly enjoyable neo-prog release from Italy. These guys have a real knack for melody, and moments from "Red Moon" and "Endless Hunting" have a knack for putting a tune on your lips and a smile on your face. Keyboards are used in a subtle manner, and luckily for us these guys understand "subtle" doesn't mean "just stick to the same, boring DX7 presets". As a result, this disc has aged a lot better than a number of others of its era.

The 19-minute title suite that closes out the disc does so with grace and style, shifting tempos and moods well and incorporating the tunefulness that is the band's strongest suit. Unfortunately, this is also where the main weakness of the band shows through: the vocals. Alex Brunori is actually a fine vocalist, who puts across the melodies superbly. But he should have sung in Italian; his English diction is absolutely deplorable and he mispronounces a lot of words. It would have been disastrous even had the lyrics not been...rather silly. Which they are, particularly on the suite, which is about the denizens of a beehive.

Still, for all its shortcomings, Leviathan manage to come up smelling like a rose with this recording in the end. For a (sub-)genre as frequently derivative and risible as neo-prog, that's actually quite a remarkable achievement.

In 1988 a long period full of concert begins for Leviathan.The result of this heavy promotion was the group to become known not only in their homecountry, but also in Germany, Holland, Japan, France and The United States, achieving some very good sales.In July 1989 a new member joins the group, keyboardist Andrea Amici, who replaced Franco Pezzella and a second album, entitled ''Bee yourself'', is recorded and released in 1990 on Contempo Records.

Very good Neo Prog of the MARILLION/DEYSS school of Prog is the name of the game for another Leviathan release, who deny any evident links with the Italian Prog movement for a more British-styled Progressive Rock, relying on melody, bombastic keyboards and sensitive vocals, all delivered in the English language.The sound of Leviathan remains emotional and very atmospheric with nice vocal harmonies, catchy tunes, interesting guitar work ala STEVE ROTHERY and 80's-flavored keyboards with symphonic orientations, which nevertheless suffer from a thin quality, as most of the bands of the time.''Bee yourself'' contains less tracks than Leviathan's debut, clocking though at the same length, and the reason is the addition of the 20-min. title track, the most ambitious effort of the group.This is definitely the most 70's-inspired composition of the album with a deep, symphonic sound akin to GENESIS and laid-back guitar work in the vein of PINK FLOYD.Lots of Classical influences, dramatic instrumental lines, theatrical, diverse voice performances and qualitive melodies appear in a well-structured piece with numerous shifting moods and even some complex keyboard themes, although the weak keyboard sound seems to be again a negative factor.

Typical product of 90's Italian Prog with English lyrics.Musically interesting, containing a combination of accesible and advanced ideas, fairly symphonic along the lines of the groups of the 70's, but always held down by a mediocre recording quality.Still recommended, especially if you are a MARILLION fan.

3.5 stars for sure

Leviathan (don't be confused with american prog metal from the '90s aswell another americans from the '70s) is a neo prog band from Italy formed around mid 80s and releasing 3 albums so far as far as I know. The one I'm talking about is the second offer from 1990 named Bee yourself and definatly their best from their catalogue. Graced by an excellent art wotk, this little known release among prog heads is for sure a winner from start to finish. Influences are immediately recognizable in Gnesis, PFM or Bnaco type of symph prog with neo prog elements thrown in not far from IQ or Pendragon or Marillion fame. All pieces are great with a plus on ending lenghty title track cloking around 20 min - is a pure joy and one of the better neo prog pieces ever came from Italy. Also despite being a neo prog band , there are some jazzier moments interluded with the rest, giving a quite complicated background and awesome musicianship. All in all a very worthy affair for any serious prog fan intrested in bands that in thet period were trying to revive the style, I think Leviathan must not be forgotten, Bee yourself is a good aqusition for sure. Similar with aformentioned bands but in places remind me of another band from Italy named Fancy Fluid. 3.5 stars. Unfairly unnoticed.