RELAYER

I know about the importance of this album within YES´ discography. "Gates of delirium" is considered by a great number of fans, Both YES´ and progressive rock´s pinnacle. I have to say I disagree with them. I really feel this song is largely overrated. The instrumental section in the middle, sounds like the most challenging and complex piece of music in the progressive world. It´s even hard and takes time to listen to it and assimilate all those intense and overwhelming sounds. Still, after you finally do....Or well, after I did, I could not ignore this instrumental is much more repetitive and monotonous than complex. Some may find it spectacular and exciting. I still can´t dig it and now, once I´ve discovered it´s nature, it just sounds annoying to me.

The development of the song until it gets to the instrumental, is somewhat interesting and entertaining. Although it´s always in the same mood and there is not an evident effort to expose diversity in it. It does manage to create a feeling of increasing tension but that´s about it.

The final part, that mellow and sweet part after the instrumental is probably the second best melody YES ever wrote. Only second to "Sweetness". I feel this part has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the song. I think it was just something YES did to make of this song an EPIC, with it´s 21 minutes of lenght. This final part is sure beautiful but just seems too forced to fit in the song. The 2 minute part between the instrumental and the final section is in my opinion the best musical detail in the whole theme. Along with the guitar in the "soon" part.

"To be over" is the equivalent to "And you and I". It even matches the former with it´s single idea songwriting. Nice and all, but overlong and pretentious.

"Sound chaser" has some instrumental aspects and some very difficult and impressive playing. However, the mood and the feeling in it make the least inspiring piece of music by YES from 1969 to 1974. It just doesn´t express any feeling to me. Jon´s voice here is flat and impersonal as it gets. The tones, sounds and the whole nature of the song lacks of texture. It´s just so mechanic. Plus, it repeats itself many times and those "Cha cha cha" choruses are the most embarasing thing to listen to in front of anyone who doesn´t listen to this kind of music. Probably this "cha chas" don´t mean anything to a non-latin person. To me "cha cha cha" is a clasical latin rhythm that has nothing to do with rock, whatsoever. Also, it sounds so cheesy and ridiculous.

I give this album a 2.5 rating. It is almost good only for the "Soon" part and for the splendid playing in many parts of the album. I really could not say it´s a good album. I barely can listen to it without the intention of skipping every song.