THE WYRDING WAY

BELIEVE, or the latest episode in the adventures of Miroslaw Gil, features a new vocalist, as the newcomer is none other than Jinian Wilde, whom we've encountered in recent years with the David Cross Band, although many years before he was more of a dancefloor performer or DJ, in a genre that has nothing to do with progressive music.

BELIEVE is a combo stamped with a neo-prog stamp, I agree, since it has the particularity of including a violin in its ranks, and what a violin, as we'll see below, played, carried, and transfigured by the grace of SATOMI, the Japanese member of the band who also plays keyboards, a very high-level instrumentalist, now full of experience. Where MILLENIUM takes few musical risks (although their last album reincorporated a flautist/saxophonist for a better result), COLLAGE returned with a surprising and splendid album "Over and Out," so BELIEVE was expected at the turn.

And the turning point begins with the pearl of the album "Hold On" and its more than twenty-one minutes (10/10), magnificent, sumptuous, sublime, I let you choose the adjective that suits you, a timeless piece of progressive music beyond the decades, an incandescent whirlwind like there are few, I could give it an (11/10), that says it all, to take to our desert island. We already know that finding something superior will not be possible, which will not prevent us from listening to the other tracks. "Wicked Flame" can be considered the album's weakest moment, except that the weakest for Mirek GIL and his band would be the best of many others (8/10). A piece that opens with powerful guitars and violin before Jinian lays down his first words, SATOMI quickly and brilliantly filling the sonic space (as always), with the acoustic guitar joining in at 4:06, but that violin! Aargh... Mirek's devastating six-string guitar takes over most of the piece until its conclusion.

"Shadowland," the second of three tracks clocking in at over eleven minutes, features a keyboard/vocal introduction that's recitative and a bit haunting, until the guitar enters at 1:40. But the god of violin arrives at 3:19, fear not! Jinian Wilde's chanted vocals may put some off, but they fit perfectly into the track's overall melody, and since Satomi and Mirek Gil are pulling out all the stops, it's a breeze (9/10). A special and deserved note goes to Przemysław Zawadzki on bass guitar and Maciek Caputa on drums, who provide a rhythmic foundation where speed and talent are one, allowing the soloists to shine with unrivaled brilliance. Maciek also includes a welcome piano interlude at 9:30, after the woman has put down her violin...

The two shortest tracks to conclude this album are the first of the strings. "Be My Tears" first, a mid-tempo, violin and acoustic guitar carried by Przemyslaw's bass, a Polish star (!!!). Jinian's vocals are lively and clear, and as for the violin, everything has already been said... (9/10). The latest, "Shine," is only seven minutes and twenty-eight minutes long, very calm. Satomi is still present, don't worry. Jinian sings with restraint and emotion. The melodic structure is quite simple, radio-friendly without a doubt, easy to listen to. Mister Gil's six-string guitar takes off mid-track, supported by the beautiful keyboards (8/10). An easy exit to close this album, which overall reaches the heights of the progressive sphere.

An album that will enter my sixty best of all time!

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