FLY FROM HERE

In 2008, while preparing for a tour with Yes, vocalist Jon Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack, and his doctor instructed him to postpone any performing for at least six months. Not wanting to delay the tour, the other members of the band (Squire, Howe, White, and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (the son of Rick)) recruited Canadian singer Benoît David to replace Anderson.

After that tour, this new iteration of Yes returned to the studio to begin work on a new album. Based primarily around a suite written during the Drama recording sessions, Geoff Downes was brought in to replace the younger Wakeman on keys, and Trevor Horn produced.

This new album, 2011's Fly from Here, is fine. There are some good ideas here, particularly in the sprawling title track. David sounds closer to Trevor Horn than Jon Anderson, the main theme sounds more like a Buggles song than a Yes song, and the keys feel awfully glittery for my taste. Despite all this, the musicianship is top-notch, and it's a strong suite.

Beyond the title track, though? Mostly forgettable. "The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be" is anodyne and spineless. "Hour of Need" sounds like it could have been on Big Generator or Union in its glossy blandness. "Into the Storm" is something of a split decision for me. I dislike the vocals a lot?they sound like they're trying to be emotional and emphatic but come off flat, and the melody sounds forced. Instrumentally, though, it's top-notch.

"Life on a Film Set" is slow to get going, but it's one of the better (non-suite) songs on this album. It feels like a Yes track that could have been on Going for the One.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/03/24/deep-dive-yes/