RELAYER

One of my favorite albums, Relayer is an album that spans many styles and aspects of music. From the violent clashes in The Gates of Delirium to "drifting endlessly like a breeze" in To Be Over, Relayer is a work of art and Yes' finest album in my opinion.

The album starts off with the 22 minute Gates of Delirium. This track develops slowly from the peaceful ambiance of synths and softer guitar to the raucus instrumental battlefield that jars in your ears. This song covers so many different themes and emotions. The music slowly builds to a climax, with guitar leading the way, giving way to the synth and the chaotic drums. The intensity then drops off into a ballad lamenting the violence and hoping for peace. Epic in its scope, this song alone would make this album amazing, but two just as good songs make this album classic.

Flip the record over and you have Sound Chaser attack your ears. Very fast and rhythmic, this jazz-inflected track is constantly moving around. One of my favorite parts is the guitar solo where the guitar is the only instrument playing.

Finally, after the violence and chaos of Gates of Delirium and Sound Chaser, we arrive at a safe haven. To Be Over is a soft, calming song, with lyrics that evoke breezes and gentle streams. This song has many guitar tones: sitar, a softer, calm playing, and a sudden phrenetic playing that catches you off guard at first. The ending of this song, with a choral atmosphere and a repeat of the song's main theme, ends Relayer with a peaceful, rested feeling.

Though recorded with the newcomer Patrick Moraz at the keyboard instead of the legend Rick Wakemen, Relayer displays Yes at its creative finest. Each song is fantastic and original. Relayer is an epic album that every prog fan should own.