TIME AND A WORD

So YES purists generally consider this a minor effort in part due to the orchestra inclusion! How paradoxical, because YES allegedly represents the top of the sub-genre called "symphonic" progresive rock and isn't that the point of it all - to combine and experiment with mixing rock with classical music, among other things!

Never mind, this album is more than a pleasant surprise when I just listened it for the first time, after being neglected for many years. I did not expect much, but I must say this is decent early work from the band with especially prominent parts offered by Squire and Bruford on the rhythm section. Kaye on organ does not have to be ashamed or envy the later star Wakeman. He did a wonderful job on keyboards here. Only Banks' guitars are withdrawn a little bit too much in favour of not always successful orchestral arrangement. In part, this was one of alleged reasons for his quitting from the band prior to the release of the record. Most of the songs are still pleasant, without much ups and downs. Highlights for me being "Then" and a cover of American folk-rockers BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD "Everydays". The only filler here is perhaps "Clear Days".

So on "Time and the Word" YES reasserted their inspiration from the prominant American folk-rockers, like they did on the debut with THE BYRDS' "I See You" and later with Paul Simon's "America". And that is a fact many "eurocentrist" proggers love to deny. Since I am a huge admirer of the "West Coast sound" of psychedelic folk/country rock, I can only add my thumbs up to YES.

"Time and a Word" is slightly less strong effort from the debut LP, but I would still advise you all to re-listen it without prejudice!

PERSONAL RATING: 3,5/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5