FRAGILE

As I mentioned in my review of the album following this, for me Fragile is the peak of the band, the very best of Yes. All the promise shown by the previous recordings came together in this glorious offering. The addition of Wakeman was the cream on the cake, the rich tapestries he brought in conjunction with his virtuoso performances took the band 'close to the edge'. Unfortunately, they then went over the ledge, but that's another story.

This album contains many of the Yes classic characteristics, wonderful intros, exact notation, clever breaks and arrangements. Most of these qualities obscure the already-obvious flaws, the weak lyrics and melodies, though on this album at least, there are enough pleasant tunes to at least put that reservation to one side meantime. Roundabout and South side of the sky come across well, even in that sense, and the wonderful soaring instruments, grounded by the always-excellent and very individual bass playing of Chris Squires, give us much too much joy to carp and moan about for now.

America is perhaps something of a backward look at the old Yes, and their debt to 1-2-3, but was it really necessary to include this reminder of the past? Surely the band have moved on from the Marquee days by this point? Perhaps it's there because of popular needs rather than musical wishes.

We didn't know it then, but this was indeed a fragile moment, the spiritual end of a marvellous band. But what a worthwhile soundscape they gave us in their passing.