When a
legendary band releases something new, decades after what is considered their
prime, the material is often greeted with a harshness that often has no
connection to the real value of the work, if the listener would bother to listen
to it in its own right. I am sure this will also happen for this new album by
one of the “Big Four” of classic progressive rock. That is a crying shame
because this is a superior prog album that I have enjoyed numerous times by now.
Jon
Anderson is missing out on this offering as well as Rick Wakeman, so think in
lines of the 1980 release “Drama”. For some the absence of Jon Anderson will be
nearly unbearable but Benoît
David does an excellent job at vocalist, his voice it really good and fitting.
Steve Howe’s guitar play is still that of a virtuoso and Chris Squire plays his
bass guitar most exquisitely.
The main
part of the album is the Fly From Here suite, a piece that actually dates back
to the “Drama” days but one that has never been recorded on a studio album
before. It is a stellar piece but the shorter tracks following it are very
strong. This is the best Yes album since their classic 1970’s material and if
you are in any way a serious progressive rock fan you will buy this or at least
give it spin.
