OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW

A lot of Yes' charm is attributed to it's lead singer, Jon Anderson. While the contributions of other band members cannot be ignored, if one wants a look at what specifically it is that Jon Anderson brings to the fold, this is the album to listen to.

Released after Relayer, this album was played entirely by Jon Anderson. Unlike his fellow Yes-men, Jon Anderson wasn't really the master of any instrument. That being said, on this album he proves that, while perhaps not a master, he is more than capable on plenty, and a master of composition and layering. Olias of Sunhillow features many different acoustic instruments, which Jon layers (as well as his own vocals) with great effect. Some keys are also present, although their use is not quite as prevalent as they are in Yes, and they don't feel as important.

The album tells a tale inspired by the cover of Fragile, where a clan on a planet that is about to explode must build a ship (The Moorglade) to escape. For those that love the pretentious side of prog, this album will appeal with the track names alone - song names like Qoquaq en Transic and Moon Ra are common on this album.

As can be expected of Jon Anderson, this album is full of flights of fancy. It is not a hidden Yes album, but has its own distinct, otherworldly feel, created by the intricate layers of instruments and vocals. Definitely an enjoyable trip for any lover of atmospheric prog music.

There are no real highlights to this album, and it is best consumed as a whole. I have not really heard anything else that sounds quite like it.

A final note: I have the CD version, and the notes are terribly disappointing. It has snapshots of the LP images in the sleeve, but they are too small to read or even really appreciate. But they look like, at full size, they would be beautiful. For album art lovers, I recommend trying to hunt down a vinyl version.