OPEN

Open is a 20 plus minute long track that was released (in digital form only) as a "single" in 2011. It is a Symphonic piece in four movements featuring orchestration as a central element. Jon wrote and recorded it in 2010/2011 and released it through iTunes in 2011. Perhaps the fact that it was a digital only release is the reason that not many people have heard about it, let alone heard it. I learned about its existence only recently (through this website) and as soon as I did I immediately opened iTunes and bought it. At the time I listened to it a couple of times but then left it waiting for some time before hearing it again now. It is a good composition that deserves several listens.

This music is by no means straightforwardly comparable to that of Yes, but it is nonetheless probably fair to say that it is somewhat closer to Yes (in both style and quality) than most other things in Jon Anderson's uneven solo discography. I'm not yet familiar with all of Jon's solo albums, though I've heard most of them. I would say that Open is one of Jon's best and most interesting solo releases, up to the standard of his better albums like Olias Of Sunhillow and Toltec.

As is to be expected, Jon's lead vocals are a very central element of this music. There is also some piano, some acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums and various percussion instruments, and several backing vocalists, but all instruments take a back seat to the vocals and the orchestra. Thankfully the piece avoids sounding bloated and overly bombastic as is so often the case when orchestras are involved. Jon's innocent voice helps here and there are just enough other elements to keep the orchestra from being overpowering. The lyrics are very much in his characteristic style and he comes across a bit like a spiritual guru or mystic.

If you appreciate in particular those aspects of the music of Yes that are brought by Jon Anderson, you are going to like Open as here these aspects are kind of isolated and concentrated. A worthy addition.

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