DRAMA

1980 was not only the turn of a new decade for YES but it also started on a new note with Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman leaving the band to pursue a different direction. Enter new wave, punk and Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn of the BUGGLES and by most critics YES were all but dried up. However they did the unthinkable with "Drama" and that is put out a very good lively album with a certain 80's kick and yet 100% YES all the way thru. So without going into the story of YES (many other have documented this better than I) lets chat a bit about "Drama". Horn does a great pseudo-anderson -like interpretation with Squire and Howe helping with background harmonies which for many might actually fake you really into believing Jon Anderson is actually singing. As you would expect the bass and drum interplay are clever a deep sounding with great flare. Howe's guitar work is choice as is Downes keyboard work. The songs are very memorable with TEMPUS FUGIT rising I suppose to the tops (Machine Messiah also for me). Overall perhaps not quite at the level of "Close To The Edge" but still a very solid album and one I think too many people discount.