BE attempts to explore the many facets of human existence. It begins with the narration of Animae, someone or something who/that has existed for as long as he/she/it can remember and contemplates the nature of his/her/its existence and then begins a journey of understanding with the words: "I will call myself GOD and I will spend the rest of forever trying to figure out who I am". The story continues from there. The characters that appear and disappear throughout the story are as follows:
Animae: Animae is the album's representation of God, or a Godhead.
Nauticus: Nauticus is the name of a fictional space probe that is, according to the album, the most intelligent space probe ever to be created. In reference to the marine 'neighborhood', Nauticus 'drifts' throughout space, searching for answers to save Earth from itself.
Imago: Imago is the image of humanity in its most natural form. Combined, Imago is the reflection of Animae.
Dea Pecuniae: Dea Pecuniae can be seen as a feminine version of Mr. Money, and the Eve of humanity's dark side. In a way, she represents sin.
Mr. Money: Mr. Money is the main character of the story; a man with the most wealth on Earth, who spends most of it on cryogenics in order to fulfill his wish - to be frozen, and not to be awakened until he is made immortal. He represents the darker side of humanity, being the Adam for Dea Pecuniae.
The sound and style are somewhat more varied than previous Pain of Salvation albums, but at the same time, calling upon those previous albums as influences. The album includes: narrative passages; a folk-like song; a gospel-prayer-like song; a church-hymn-like song; progressive metal songs; a classical piano/strings piece; a conversation with a radio in the background; news readings; and even a song that would not be out of place in a Broadway musical. Another song consists entirely of voice messages to be left on "God's answering machine". To approach this song, the band asks the subscribers of their newsletter to call a certain phone number and say what ever they would want to say to God. In writing "BE", Daniel Gildenlöw used many resources for information, insights and inspiration. These can be viewed at the , and are intended as "points of departure" for listeners to continue their "own journey through "BE" ".
Track listing and song title meanings
The Latin errors are on purpose on behalf of Daniel. In a letter to a fan, which was posted on the Remedy Lane forum, he wrote: The rough translations for the song titles are: Prologue "BE" I Animae Partus II Machinassiah - See above. III Machinageddon - See above. IV Machinauticus - See above. V Deus Nova Mobile Concept, research, original stories, lyrics, narrations and texts by Daniel Gildenlöw. All music by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. All orchestral arrangements by Daniel Gildenlöw, except "Imago" by Jan Levander and Daniel Gildenlöw and "Iter Impius" by Fredrik Hermansson. News casts, fake interview and other "snipplets" written by Kim Howatt, Jim Howatt and Daniel Gildenlöw.
Credits
Band
Daniel Gildenlöw - Vocals, choirs, voices, harmony vocals; electric and acoustic guitar; mandola; Chinese archo; keyboards; percussion on toms, rototoms, mandola, eggs, floors, broken cymbals and what-have-you; samplers and programming.
