OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW

"Olias of Sunhillow" is the visionary brainchild of Jon Anderson after a hiatus away from Yes. It is as progressive as anything from the early Yes years, but of course does not measure up to the classic band albums. Having said that this is certainly an impressive solo effort, streets ahead of those difficult years of Yes' "Union" to "Talk". Anderson pours out his heart and soul with every track but as accomplished and virtuosic the music is, the lyrical content is full blown New Age and this may turn some listeners away. Indeed I had some difficulty with this as I have always considered New Age beliefs as anathema to my beliefs. The transcendentalism, Shamanism and New Age themes explored on Yes albums are given the full treatment here and it comes across as heavy handed and impenetrable. Anderson's voice may not be for everyone but I like the way he croons on high falsetto and at least on this album his voice is not strained. The tension and release of dark and light shades in the texture of the music makes for some compelling listening.

There is a conceptual framework on which each song hangs, the story though is as opaque or hard to understand as the lyrics themselves, true to any Yes album of the 70s. I just like the way Anderson keeps it progressive and doesn't sell out like so many other solo artists from prog bands. The concept concerns an organic interplanetary craft known as the Moorglade which is an exploration of the innerverse or universe or mindverse, whatever you want to call it, of the spheres of mystical revelation. The lyrics search for meaning of existence and the listener searches for meaning of the lyrics. It is all very dense and cluttered with symbolism and it will confound, perhaps even infuriate. The music is the most important thing and it ranges from incredibly simple and fluent, to intricate and fractured. There are true moments of beauty, very Yes like or Wakemanesque keyboards.

After the opening tracks the style settles into an odd ambience that can be dreamy or somnambulistically dull depending on your mood. The extreme slow pace of 'Song Of Search', an instrumental that works as a transition point, is followed by the quirky synth-soaked 'To The Runner'. The transmogrification of styles is astounding but it works as points of interest as the story unfolds. A lot of the music is repetitive, mesmirising and transient, and yet these moments are counterbalanced by sporadic transfusions of polyrhythmic keyboards and percussion.

Overall it is an album that will surprise many listeners familiar to Yes, moreover as a solo album the Yes men were not known for this type of musicianship, but Anderson has created something very special. Not everyone will be into the New Aginess or high pitched music, but it still delivers as a progressive excursion into unchartered musicscapes. I am not going to rate it as high as masterpiece Yes albums as it lacks that punch without Squire, Howe and Wakeman. It is known as a cult album among proggers and for good reason; an excellent slice of prog nevertheless and an astonishing concept album.

Share this JON ANDERSON review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to AtomicCrimsonRush
• Report this review (#285436)
• Buy JON ANDERSON music online with PA partners
• Show all JON ANDERSON MP3/Stream
• Go to JON ANDERSON page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Olias of Sunhillow page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for JON ANDERSON related discussions