TALK

I'm astonished at the level of antipathy to this album by so many members. Or I would be if it wasn't for the fact that I felt the same way when I first heard it in 1994. I bought it, as I did all latter-day Yes albums, with some trepidation; hated the cover, and when I played it, hated the album. But then, I knew that over the years, I'd hated most Yes albums the first time I heard them, so I persevered... and I still disliked it. Dislike was an improvement on hate, but there was a long way to go.

I came back to it a few years later, and started to like it, played it a lot more, and came to love it. !Endless Dream" is a forgotten and neglected masterpiece, and the rest of the album is at least the equal of Going for the One. "Real Love" has a superb atmosphere, one of Squire, Andreson and Rabin's very best.

Is it Close to the Edge? No. Is it Relayer? Absolutely not. But it's some pretty damn good tracks played by consummate musicians, and deserves much more recognition and appreciation! It would have got four stars from me but "Endless Dream bumps it up to essential listening.