FLY FROM HERE

It would be so easy to go the "better-than,worse-than" comparison route in reviewing this new YES release, but times have changed, personnel have changed and literally, the members have changed as people (most upward of 60 years). So taken at face value, how is this album? I'll try to express without comparison to all of the YES albums I love and don't love.

The initial listen reveals a pleasant overall produced sound and solid performances. The sound is balanced, the vocals are up front and clean, and it sounds like YES. This is an enjoyable listen.

The songs vary in their intensity and prog-ness, but safe to say that 60% is more of a progressive arrangement and the rest more straightforward (like say, All Good People). Within those arrangements is a more tame sounding group of musicians that have mellowed over time. Steve is no longer grinding his guitar to sawdust, but his arrangements are still great and there are some really nice leads. Chris brings his slightly toned-down Rickenbacker sound, but the climbs and syncopation make this sound like YES. Alan is definitely mellower, but solid as usual, keeping everything accessible. Geoff Downes adds a nice blend of classic keyboard sounds (Hammond Organ and strings) and arrangements that keep the ethereal 70's sound intact. Benoit David sings well and hits the same stratospheric pitches that Jon Anderson and Trevor Horn have laid as the centerpiece of past releases, but he sounds more similar to Horn, which fits well with the Horn/Downes compositions. With Horn singing some background vocals, this makes for a very strong vocal album.

And so the vocals... When Chris Squire is singing with either Jon Anderson, Trevor Horn Trevor Rabin or Benoit David, the sound in uniquely, YES. Fly from here vocals sound like YES. In fact, regardless of who is singing, the vocals work. The harmonies are sweet, well-produced and up-front in the mix. Even those of us who lament the absence of Jon Anderson cannot help but feel uplifted by this album. Vocals are not a problem.

In the new Jon Anderson release, you can hear Jon expressing what he feels to the fullest and wonder whether a classic YES-sounding release such as Fly From Here would be possible with Jon at this moment in time. Not that one couldn't dream, but sometimes there appears to be a divide between Jon's spiritual, lighthearted and open-minded approach to musical styles compared to the more cemented approach of the other musicians to be crossed in order to create a classic YES album together.

So the music. Although you may not be able to tell without having read it, the album is made up of songs written by Horn/Downes around 1980, some odd bits penned by individuals over the years, and the last song on the album being created by the entire group. While this is not encouraging when considering the composers access to well of songwriting creativity, it enforces their ability to take any music and turn it into YES music. As instrumentalists/arrangers, YES are still solid as a rock. As composers...well they've managed to lean on other composers such as the Buggles and Trevor Rabin for material to YES-ify, and as long as they can find that source, there will continue to be YES music.

Jon Anderson's well has certainly not run dry, so I would guess that the next album will be with Jon, if the other members can find a way to work together with Jon's style to maintain classic YES musical arrangements, and if Jon can give a little. There could be more Jon- YES in the future.

For now, there is as much reason to be excited about YES as there has been in a long time. This is a very good album that makes you feel like you feel when you hear classic YES. And that's really what it's all about.