TORMATO

Opinions vary, tastes differ, but I still don't get what Yes did so terribly wrong in Tormato so that the good people of the PA "ganged up" on it and sunk it a whole star lower than the IMO weaker Going for the One and the somewhat disoriented and bleakish Drama (a product of the first hybrid Yes-Buggles lineup?)

I really don't see any poor songs on Tormato. My personal favorites are Release, Release and On the Silent Wings of Freedom. I do like long, but energetic and upbeat instrumental pieces. But the rest of the tracks are perfectly good and nothing needs to be skipped.

I am especially glad that Tormato is completely free from the OTT sofistication (which comes across as weirdness, if you ask me) that began to dominate and overwhelm the Yes's musical message in Relayer and Tales.

There aren't tracks that I don't like enough to skip. None below strong solid 4 stars.

The only common critical observation that I tend to agree with that the "fat lush" bass is less prominent on Tormato. I'd like to hear more Sqiure-like Squire, too, but then again: Tormato is Tormato; in order to be good in its own right, it doesn't have to sound like Fish out of Water or Schindleria Praematurus.

It's also true the quality of the sound is not stellar, but the music comes through strongly and clearly nevertheless. Maybe, Wilson can unbutcher is one day, as he has done with a few albums by Tull and KC>

Share this YES review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Argonaught
• Report this review (#766467)
• Buy YES music online with PA partners
• Show all YES MP3/Stream
• Go to YES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Tormato page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for YES related discussions