DRAMA

I didn't buy the album at the time... I only had "Fragile" and for a long time that was the only Yes album that I enjoyed. There was a lot of fuzz at the time about Anderson and Wakeman... (Yes without them isn't Yes blablablabla) I have one different big impression... The Yes albums that didn't have the Roger Dean artwork (Going for the one and Tormato) were absolute crap...

I just received an immaculate vinyl copy and have just finished listening... I must agree with a lot of other reviewers on this one: It's a bloody good record!!!!!

Machine Messiah has a heavy intro which then goes into a great joyfull Buggles-like tune. The vocals are great and the track has nice shifting rythms. Chris Squire excells on bass. The second part of the track is much quieter but part three goes full spead ahead again. The organ is brilliant too!

White Car is a little nothing with a very nice orchestral intro. The vocals are a bit forced but it does work.

Does it really happen? Well seemingly it does! Nice synths and excellent bass and drums. The vocals here are again the weaker point though I must say that the song nor the album actually suffer that much from this. Great organ again and a nice reprise at the very end.

Into the Lens has again a nice bass intro and - what does one expect - very fine guitarwork from Steve Howe indeed. There is a tranquil atmosphere, at times a bit uneven. Squire and White prove again to be a very solid rythmsection with again a typical Howe intevention on electric guitar. The end is alas somewhat more conventional rock.

Run through the light has again a very nice intro on keys. The vocals are quite good and Steve Howe delivers yet again some very beautifull things on guitar.

Tempus Fugit... Yes played ska!!! My God!!! Disaster, blasfemy, outraged comments... Indeed it has some ska, so what??? The intro here again is just grand! The vocals are good, the keyboards colour the rest of the canvas beautifully and Squire, White and Howe are all in tip top shape painting the actual details of the artwork.

If there is one album that proves Squires skills on bass, it is - apart from "Fragile" - this one! The three core musicians have delivered one of the finest Yes moments, helped by the "commercial Buggles"... A pity the line-up wasn't better received. But then again, it was the end of an era. Squire and White are one of the most solid rythmsections in rock and Howe... definitely one of the finest guitarists... And a warm applaus for Horn and Downes!!!!!