HEAVEN & EARTH

I became very happy when I read that Yes were going to release a new record the summer 2014, their nineteenth studio album, released fourty-five years after their debut. I hadn't so big expectations though. I didn't though them to be especially innovative and that they probably would reuse a lot of themes from the past. The old Yes members are still members: Chris Squire(bass), Steve Howe(guitar) and Alan White(drums) and two are new: the singer Jon Davison and the keayboard player Geoff Downes.

After three listenings through the album I want to say that Jon Davison is a very good Yes' singer with a voice similar to Jon Anderson's but not too similar. My second impression is that this is something new, that Yes doesn't sound like it has sounded before. On fly for me the band tried to make another symphonic masterpiece (the title track) but I don't really think they managed. It feels like the band is more comfortable now and play the music they want to play today, instead of living in the past.

Of course I miss old Yes, which were heavier and more crazy, symphonic and frenetic. This doesn't sound like the classical Yes and unfortunatley it isn't prog. But still am I enjoying the album a lot and think it sounds fresh. It is a collection of catchy songs without high intentions but the music is well performed and honest.

My two favourites are the two last songs: "Subway Wall"(7/10) and "It was all we knew"(7/10). The first of those has a pleasant guitar theme which gives me children song thoughts, i like the chorus and the organ solo. The length makes it perhaps also more interesting. The second is very catchy with a schlager melody in perhaps a Greek way. This soft and catchy clothing introduces a heavy rock fanfare which reminds me of the rock'n'roll intro of Going for the one.

On the album's first song "Believe again" there are things I like such the guitar solo in the middle and many of the instrumental parts even if I think the chorus is quite boring(6/10). "The game" is a mixture of higher intentions and a populistic structure and I like also that(6/10). "In a world of our own" is also worth mentioning. It's a song not very unlike the eighties' Yes and I liek the structure as well as the vocals(6/10).

A lot of the feautures of the album aren't so interesting, It's not a masterwork we are talking about. I find "Light of the Ages" a bit boring(5/10) and "Step Beyond" rather bad(4/10). The last named uses a computer sounding melody that goes aroung and some repeated silly lyrics, and I don't like the result.

Over all do I think Yes' "Heaven & Earth" is a decent work that makes me happy and makes me respect these guys that still do their music exactly as they please. I also enjoy Roger Dean's cover which doesn't look like the earlier ones. I will actually give this record three stars and I definitely think Yes fans should give this a try.