THE LADDER

Yes redeem themselves after a slew of mediocrity in the 90s with "The Ladder". From the outset there is a huge leap back into progressive territory on the opening track Homeworld. Clocking over 9 minutes and full of wonderful instrumental sections and the awesome vocals of Anderson with reflective lyrics, one wonders where the band had disappeared to on their last album "Open Your Eyes". The keyboard workouts of Igor Khoroshev are great, he is now an official member, and it has a definite progressive structure, with a rather provocative ending with wind blowing and Anderson singing to a lonely piano. Its a wonderful way to begin this album.

The Roger Dean album cover is certainly welcome back after some hideous covers, and it perhaps signifies that the band are going for a more progressive sound, not the AOR sound that was permeating their 90s catalogue. It Will Be A Good Day (The River) is a decent song with some hopeful lyrics "make me believe again, making me free again."

Lightning Strikes jumps along at a frenetic pace and may be well placed in a disco with its danceable rhythms. Its okay though because it bounces along with such energy that it shows Yes can do disco when the mood hits them. I like the way it breaks into a new time sig in the half time feel, and Squire has fun on the bass here, and thats not a crime. The opening flute solo is borrowed from The Kinks' song Phenomenal Cat from their album "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society". Can I? is mercifully short at 1:32, and is basically a didgeridoo going for it while Anderson ad libs jazz mumbo jumbo vocals. Noteable for the didgeridoo only. This segues into Face to Face with very funky bass, and some really nice lyrics. It holds the attention with infectious chorus and great harmonies throughout.

If Only You Knew is a beautiful love song with Anderson in fine form. To Be Alive (Hep Yadda) is okay as an inspirational song with hopeful lyrics. It is a bit repetitious at times but the uptempo beat grows on you.

Finally is a 6 minute song with bright rhythms, powerful singing and some of Steve Howe's best work as he makes his lead guitar soar on some chilling solos. The orchestral keyboards are mesmirising and Anderson sings with an air of beauty.

The album occasionally runs out of steam at the end but there is quality evident. The Messenger has a reggae feel because Anderson wrote it about the person who has influenced his music, the late reggae master Bob Marley. New Language is a lengthy track at 9:19, and has a wonderful bassline and some nice time sig changes as well as keyboard workouts and a ton of reflective lyrics to ponder over; "I speak from some sort of protection of learning, Even though I make it up as I go on, A special trait is that I've tried To reach all feelings, So I speak a new language of love, Some say that it is written in the circle, Others that it is written in the sun, But I protect myself by seeing this experience, As a metaphor for moving on."

Nine Voices (Longwalker) closes the album with acoustic vibrations and a pensive Anderson thinking about the forces that surround us, nine voices singing as one, this dialogue." Howe drives the song with fast finger picking and strumming and there is a rototum percussion sound.

So in conclusion "The Ladder" is superior to any of their albums since "Going For The One". It is only just a notch above "Talk" but it sits comfortably above any albums in between these. A worthwhile Yes album and it paved the way for the last album to feature Anderson "Magnification", which would turn out to be the last great triumph for Yes.