GOING FOR THE ONE

I have read about this album in a local newspaper (and about progressive rock) and they say this is a concept album about a man's life from childhood to old age and death, and finally transcendental life (this would be Awaken). Well, some lyric parts are like that, for example "Here you stand no taller than the grass sees"

In the music you can already smell the change to a more mainstream style, that would lead to pop music in the 80s. The title track in fact is mainstream rock with almost no progressive tendencies (well, the chromatic synth fill excepted) but well this would be the only letdown of the album. It's still a funny upbeat song, even if not up to par with the others. The other heavy rocker is Paralels, a quite mainstream chorus but the presence of the organ makes the song progressive. And there are quite difficult parts during the solos, there's a great organ solo at the middle eight. Well, not that special in its own, but it fits well in the concept.

The rest is simply marvellous, making Yes one of my favourite bands (Well, at least up to this album unfortunately) There is a great change in dynamics and mood while entering the slow acoustic guitar of Turn of the Century. The vocals build up from a simple 3-note motive but developed throughout the song and completed with rich guitar counterpoint, and symphonic keyboard chords. There is a little electric piano in the instrumental part which also sounds great. The song is also very in-the-mood and thoughtful. On the other hand Wonderous Stories is an other quiet ballad but much simpler and sunnier. The chromatic keyboards come up again, while the echoes of the last words Hearing...

And of course there is the epic Awaken, which really surprised me. I found this the most experimental of Yes, very difficult to "get" the song (although I usually don't understand this word, this time I see what they mean...) but now I think it's one of the best songs of Yes, along with Close To The Edge and Gates Of Delirium!

It opens with virtuostic piano cadenza, and of course they use again the ethereal sounds to back Anderson's voice (this made them great successes before, just see the two songs mentioned!) But what comes...? Really strange, repetitive guitar lines and unusual vocals that are not "leading" the song, just filling texture, and endless speed guitar solos, this have the feeling like Eternity, it goes on forever...! Kind of consummation or fulfilling of your hopes, this is a vigorous dance with celestial sounds...

The next part is a baroque-like organ solo turning into a crazy roundabout of chords, that reaches all the 12 tones of cromatic scale! whow, stunning effect! After a bit they slow down step by step, and the music almost stops.... It really took me a long time to accept this change and take it as a part of the concept... It moves into a middle part, like... what's this? Yes going into Post Rock? A slow, repetitive music with very thin sound. A bit of glass percussion (or sounds like that) and harp with pipe organ solo, and slowly the others come in, bass, drums and synths. This is great contrast after the glorious first part, like meditating. But it slowly builds up to reach the mood of the former part, but without a break this time, if it were a continuous following! They had a great work on this, I'm sure. At the end is the beginning again, the singer with ethereal synth that standed the test.

I think this music should be taken as a gift for humanity, even if the first song is not that good, so have a good time!!!

E Major

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