Yes, after “Catatonia” and “The Robbery of Murder” Salem Hill release another fine concept album. Writing a solid review of a concept album is usually a rather difficult thing to do, for the music and the story are more complex than on regular albums and you need time to really get into the music.

I remember the first time I listened to Dream Theater’s “Metropolis part II” and not liking any of it. Boy, can things change after a few times of listening. Another fine example is Marillion’s “Brave”. This album ended up in my CD-rack very soon after I had bought it. I took over half a year before I got into their music, today it’s probably my all-time favourite album.

Well, Salem Hill’s “Be” is somewhat different from these two examples. It’s hard not to like this album at first listening. This is probably because all experimental and the more proggy pieces of music are alternated with very accessible intermezzos and some melodic rock tracks like “The Red Pool” for example. These accessible tracks with easy melodies, nice vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars, run through the album as sort of a guiding line.

They easily compensate for the progressive outbursts and the somewhat over the top lead vocals.

Take the track “Seattle” where a piano melody is combined with a multiplicity of vocal harmonies (think in the line of “Thoughts”) ending with screaming keyboards and flowing into the very rhythmic “Love Won’t Save The World” which is pretty much guitar and drums orientated. A track like “A Perfect Light” made me start to wonder... These guys sound like Spock’s Beard. It might however, and this is more likely, be an according interest in The Beatles.

“Be” is a well balanced mixture of easy listening melodies and pretty original and loose sympho and prog. I don’t think that any prog fan will be disappointed after listening to the album. Nevertheless I have some doubts whether “Be” will remain interesting after some months. There are probably too much easy listening Beatle-esque tracks on the album and too few mind blowing emotions. Then again, what do I know after a couple of times listening: this might well be another “Brave” or “Metropolis”. Time will tell.