FLY FROM HERE

I am in always of mode of excite when a new Yes album is due to be released. The last few have left me crying bitter tears of heartache, but this new one is in aspects of being very very great indeed. Two of the first things you will notice is that Ian Anderson is no longer on vocals and Rack Wickman is no longer the keys player. Instead we are transported back in time with Geoff Hurst from the Buggles back on keyboards, and his partner Nicky Horn being in the producers chair. The new vocalist is Benwah David from the band "Mystery" and the Yes tribute band "Notes From The Edge"

So what is the music like? for the most part absolutely excellent, especially on the near 24 minute epic "Fly From Here" with some nice quirky beats on the beginning and Steve Howe bringing to mind Miss Senior in quite a few places. What i like about this epic is that it doesn't try to be overcomplicated like a Goats Of Delirium" or indeed "Notes From The Edge" What we have here instead is nearly 24 minutes of very listenable Prog which almost has a summery feel about it, and would probably go well listened to on a hot summers night out on your patio with a bottle of chilling wine. The suite makes me feel happy and i like feeling happy!

"The Man You Always Wanted To Be" unfortunately suffers from reminding me of Johnny Kissack threatening me with a knife at a funfair when i wouldn't give him a cigarette.......It just has that kissacky musical feel to it, but don't get me wrong it is still better than most of what passes for music these days, and indeed in parts brings to mind bald bouncing scousers. "Life On A Film Set" is another high point with all that well loved Yes quirkiness and again Steve Howe tipping his hat to Miss Senior in a way he hasn't done much for a very long time. The Clark James styled vocal at the beginning brings chills to my spine.

"Hour Of Need" and "Solitaire" are really the songs which totally let me down - "Hour Of Need" like "To Be Over" is a bit too chinese sounding in places for my liking, and surely with "The Clap, Mood For A Day" etc, Steve Hackett is beginning to overegg it with "Solitaire" "Into The Storm" ends the album in rocking "Our little Shaun" fashion and i dare anyone not to enjoy this little treatie of a track.

The whole band are on excellent form, and Bewah David does a fine job in filling those big bossy boots left by Ian Anderson. My advice would be to merrily hop and skip along to your nearest record store and gleefully buy this great album.

For fans of Yes, Jon Anderson and The Buggles.