THE LADDER

"The Ladder" is the 16th full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Yes. The album hosts new keyboard player Igor Khoroshev. The album was recorded under some pretty unusual circumstances as producer Bruce Fairbairn passed away during the recording of the album and Yes had to finish recording the vocal tracks after his death. The mixing of the album was also done after Bruce Fairbairn passed away.

The album features several good progressive rock tracks like the great 9:33 minutes long opener "Homeworld ( The Ladder)", "Finally", "The Messenger" and "New Language". Unfortunately it´s also scarred by some mediocre tracks like the awful but fortunately short "Can I?" and especially "Lightning Strikes" with it´s horrible caribbean influence. Yes probably had great fun making the latter but they really shouldn´t have put it on an album IMO. Maybe the odd B-side would have been a better choice. The music style is generally somewhere between progressive rock and more commercially sounding AOR/ pompous pop/ rock and it´s needless to say I enjoy the music most when Yes emphasise the former style. When they do I think they shine.

One of the greatest assets on "The Ladder" is the excellent musicianship but also the enthusiastic attitude that comes across when listening to the album. I really enjoy albums where it´s obvious that the musicians had fun while recording them. This is such an album. The production, which is pretty succesful to my ears, also helps a lot on the generally good impression I have of "The Ladder". A 3 star rating is deserved. "The Ladder" is not essential in any way but it´s a pretty solid effort by Yes.