OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW

An absolutely gorgeous album, and the only ones of the Yes solo releases to deserve a "must-own" place in any progger's library. Anderson gives us a lovely "concept" album, based on the story of the people of Sunhillow leaving their home planet on an "Ark," the "Moorglade." Olias builds it, Raynart pilots the vessel, and QoQuaQ unites the four tribes of Sunhillow so they can all share in the journey. Like most of Anderson's lyrical constructs, "Olias" is full of meandering mysticism, and it's easy to get lost trying to sort the sense out of them. Don't try.

Musically, Anderson gives us a beautiful palette of watercolors, anchored by washes of Vangelis-like synths (for years, many believed that Vangelis played the keys -- he didn't, Anderson handles virtually all of the instruments himself) and a stunning range of vocals. Anderson is not a virtuoso of any particular instrument, though he's a better keyboard player than one might admit; he understands that, and doesn't give us more than he's capable of. The guitars, basses, and drums are there to support the vocals and keyboards, and they serve their function. Anderson's genius is in his vocals, and here he doesn't stint -- he gives us beautiful choruses of overdubbed Anderson joining in soaring contrapuntals and glorious a cappella renderings. This is primarily a vocal album supported by lovely spacy keyboards, all played quite deliberately and at a slow, dreamy pace. If you want to be transported to a quiet, beautiful otherworld, sit back with the headphones; if you want lovely background music that rarely intrudes into your other pursuits, it works that way, too. It is NOT the "great lost Yes album," and doesn't pretend to be. It is what it is: a quiet, understated masterpiece. If you're reminded of Vangelis or Andreas Vollenweider, that follows, though Anderson tends to avoid the cliched territory that those worthies enjoy mining.

Like Squire's "Fish Out of Water," and Wakeman's "Six Wives," this album has withstood the test of time quite well. Anderson's other solo work does not. If you don't own this one, you should -- and find an old pressing of the original LP if you can, at least for archival purposes if not for playing, the artwork is lush and gorgeous, far more elaborate than most albums.