Yes - Relayer
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Free Music Notes for Relayer
Free Music Review: DELERIOUS!
Hit: 5 Stars
Relayer & Close to the Edge are (in my opinion) Yes' two best albums & it would be difficult for me to choose between the two of them. However, one advantage with Relayer is that it is the least dated album by Yes. Close to the Edge, admittedly sounds like it was recorded in 1972. Relayer is different. A lot of this, I think, has to do with the fact that Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman on this album. The irony is that, during the 70's, Wakeman was considered king, but I personally feel his use of keyboards was not as interesting as Moraz's. While Wakeman's playing was classically-based, Moraz had more of a jazz background. Wakeman, as Bill Bruford once said in an interview, is incapable of playing a blue note (though the one exception would be his excellent organ solo on Roundabout). Also, Moraz's use of synthesizers doesn't sound so obviously dated. Even as late as Tormato, Wakeman's choice of synths is so-well, cheesy. Too bad Moraz ended up being a jerk & Wakeman was in for Going for the One (and end up with Steve Howe & Wakeman struggling against each other). Don't get me wrong-when Wakeman was getting into it, he succeeded with some terrific playing also ("Close to the Edge" especially). But Moraz's approach really demonstrated that Yes could've pushed prog-rock in a more interesting direction. It was a great chemistry (now imagine what they would've sounded like with Bruford on the drums instead!).The production on this album is fantastic. Steve Howe plays a more central role, which is never a bad thing! This definitely contains some of Alan White's best drumming (and not just on "Sound Chaser"), Chris Squire's bass lines rock (he has one of the most "erotic"-sounding bass playing, along with Tony Levin). Jon Anderson is fantastic as usual (and a little scary in "Delerium"). Moraz has some excellent performances & isn't always trying to throw in a lead part everywhere-he knows when to step into the limelight & when to step back. Most importantly, the band ROCKS on this album unlike anything else they've ever done!
Now about the music: Relayer opens with "The Gates of Delerium," whose only other real contender as the Yes magnum opus would be "Close to the Edge." Within the first minute, you know this is going to be different. The lyrics are very different from a lot of their other material-it's terrifying at times as oppressors are swept into violence which becomes all-consuming and becomes an end in itself rather than a means to an end (which is typical of practically all revolutionary movements). The middle instrumental section is filled with all sorts of chaotic metallic crashes, and eventually ends with the mournful but hopeful ballad-like "Soon."
"Sound Chaser" is very jazz like with a blinding solo by Steve Howe in the middle (not so jazz-like!). "To Be Over" is a nice closer to the album which begins with a quiet canon of various guitars, sitars & keyboards. When the song ends, this opening theme returns with a brilliant force.
For someone not too familiar with Yes, I'd recommend "Close to the Edge" or "Fragile" first, but by all means-if you're going to listen to Yes, this album is a must-have (and get the Rhino remaster).
Free Music Review: Yes Classic Gets Remastered...Again!
Hit: 5 Stars
This classic had already been remastered on the Atlantic label a few years back. Now, we are treated to yet another series of Yes remasters: this time for the Rhino label. My suspicions on the motives behind this second series of Yes remasters aside, this classic remaster features a couple of single edits, and a studio run through. These are not very essential in my book, especially for people who love the album exactly as it is, but it's welcome, nonetheless.
Intense, harsh, ethereal, voluminous and ruggedly symphonic, Yes' 1974 release, _Relayer_ is arguably their most dark, experimental, grandiose and aggressive. 1972's _Close To The Edge_ was positive, peaceful and reflective. 1973's _Tales From Topographic Oceans_ was spiritually (and/or religiously) deep. However, on _Relayer_, Yes gets bleak, harsh and ominous--attributes that are rare in the positive, hopeful, celestial and peaceful world of Yes. But, make no mistake, the cosmic factor is in droves on this album, and is one non-stop sonic adventure.
The 22-minute war tale known as "The Gates Of Delirium", is a gargantuan slice of mystical progressive rock. In atmosphere, this epic features screaming synths, manic guitar solos and overall explosive volatility. Steve Howe's claustrophobic, finger-itching and hasty-paced guitar solos qualify him as nothing less than a virtuoso. Jon Anderson's vocals are ethereal, heartfelt and moving. Some of the rhythms played by Alan White are quite tricky, and not to be taken lightly. Later, Steve Howe and Chris Squire (bass) play something of an ascending scale before the violent, stormy and powerful instrumental middle section takes off. This is followed by the achingly beautiful "Soon, oh soon" section. The sad and poignant synthesizer backdrops provided by Patrick Moraz, set the stage for Jon Anderson's most poignant, ethereal and shiver-sending performance. His very last sung line (The sun will lead us, our reason to be here) makes my soul cry. After that, the epic sadly fades into oblivion.
"Sound Chaser" is a manic, frenzied and aggressive jazz-fusion number, which features enough technical mastery to give classic King Crimson a run for their money. Alan White's drumming is ultra-technical and violent. He plays as if there were no tomorrow. Steve Howe's guitar parts are fluid and virtuosic. The middle section features an extended guitar solo. Steve also seems to slip a portion of "Mood For A Day" (off of _Fragile_) on here as well. Chris Squire's snaky basslines sandwiched in the crazed mix are something to behold as well.
"To Be Over" is the mellow closer of the album. It features country-esque soundscapes (courtesy of Steve Howe's pedal steel), an instrumental section featuring many eerie sounds seeping from Patrick Moraz's keyboards, and a finale of chant-like vocal harmonies.
_Relayer_ is Yes hitting on all cylinders: Violence, intensity, aggression, gloom, despair, ethereality, love, hope (and maybe triumph). The complexity here may take some getting used to. But, in the end, _Relayer_ is a trip worth taking.
Free Music Review: A Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
If you consider yourself a fan of progressive rock, or are just "prog-rock curious", you must own this album. It defines everything that is appealing about the genre and stands as the high water mark for the era.
Compared to the somewhat overwrought concepts of "Tales From Topographic Oceans", "Relayer" offers what Yes fans really wanted - an album they could have fun listening to. It's been about 30 years since I was first introduced to these songs and I am still blown away by them.
There is no other Yes album that so magnificently showcases the virtuosity of musicianship, without sacrificing the listenability factor. Think "Fragile", only more so.
This is the album that certified Steve Howe as the most innovative and impossible-to-imitate guitarist alive. His mind-blowing riffs on each of the three tracks seem too difficult and complex for a mere mortal to manage, but he does it while effortlessly transitioning between rock, fusion, classical, country and even flamenco styles. This album should have a warning label to all guitarists not to try this stuff at home. You're better off sticking to your AC/DC records.
The same can be said for Alan White, as this is by far the most impressive drumming he's ever contributed. His playing style here is aggressive, creative and in-your-face, but without upstaging the songs. Check out the tempo changes on "Sound Chaser". You'll swear it's a special effect.
The writing is brilliant as usual. Jon Anderson gives us a story that we can actually get into in "Gates of Delirium". It's a narrative that works and makes for a very brisk 20 minutes of music. The other two cuts, "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" are also examples of Yes genius in their ability to seamlessly blend musical motifs, from fusion to rock and from classical to jazz. You'll Rock Out and Space Out all within the span of about 40 minutes!
Chris Squire is at the peak of his powers here as well, but he does not assume the position of "star" on this outing. His playing, while also superb, mostly serves as the cement that binds these exceptional pieces together.
Patrick Moraz makes his first and only appearance on a Yes album here, but it might have some Wakeman fans asking, "Rick who?". Moraz is a master keyboardist whose solos are so funky and audacious that they will leave you a bit giddy. Again, check out "Sound Chaser".
The production value is second to none. In fact, the recording is so clean and precise that it will have you wondering what decade this thing was made. As an analog record, it easily stands up to anything digital that's come out recently (and makes you wonder what the hell happened when they got together for "Tormato").
Buy this CD and listen to it over and over. If you're under 30 years old it might make you sorry you weren't born in an earlier time because they definitely don't make 'em like THIS any more.
Free Music Review: the most intense Yes album
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the album that followed the highly ambitious and flawed Tales from Topographic Oceans. T.F.T.O was too wide spred and had so many ideas condensed into an already very lenghty album, it tried to take all the ideas from the highly sucessfull Close to the Edge and expand all the ideas and insert new one. There were many successes and a few faliures.But then came Relayer- to me the monster of all Yes albums. Filled with intelligent angst, thoughtful search for the Truth, and some of the most dynamic playing comparatively to any of the other Yes albums before. Relayer experiments more than any other album, rocks harder, and each song relates superbly to the next.
We start with Gates of Delirium, 22 minutes of thoughfulness, chaotic instrumental breaks and observant lyrics all artfully expressing the madness that must be indured in the world to get to a more spiritual place- the manic use of percussion and strange keyboards twisting each note (I wish Moraz would have done more with the group) express chaos quite nicely. This all leads to the final six minutes of Soon, Howe's phased guitar notes trinkling down as Moraz's keyboard washes give such a sense of peace after all the termoil of the first part of the song.
Then we have:
Sound chaser, high intensity of avante garde jazz starts and stops gets the song going before we go through a mad'ning circular chord sequence the song is a brilliant display of Yes's superior use of time change and intrumental sychronicity. This song is more intense than Gates and the softer parts of the song only lends more to the ferocity of the bands interplay.
and finally:
there's To Be Over a perfect song to end on. The beginning of the song with guitar layered apon guitar apon keyboards apon more guitar and sitar just is one of the most glorious moment on any of Yes's albums. The beauty of Howe's steel guitar gliding through the melody with Anderson's drifting melody just invokes a lot of peace and the almost country tinge/Asian delicacy of the song makes it a true original.
I think that all that Yes's did in the 70's was masterful including the often attacked Tormato, and they rarely repeated themselves which is quite a feat for any artist. I think that Relayer is a peak they reached among many, but this is my personal favorite because it just rocks so hard and it makes those blissful moments just that greater (something i wished Topographic Oceans had done); there is never a dull moment to say the least. I recommend this album to anyone trying to find that instensity of Heart of the Sunrise (Drama is a pretty intense album as well, but not nearly as much as Relayer and Fragile).
As for the newly remastered sound- dyno-mite! Bonus tracks are fascinating extensions but not nessesary. Definitely worth an investment.
Free Music Review: INTENSE & BEAUTIFUL - LIKE ONLY YES CAN DO IT!
Hit: 5 Stars
Don't let a quiet moment in a song fool you, intense high vibration energy is coming your way on this fire-breathing dragon. You may get the impression with Gates of Delirium (if listening for the first time) that a pleasant, long English folk-rock song is on it's way...Get ready to run! The tension builds to all out sonic warfare in the middle..."As friction spans the spirits wrath ascending slowly to redeem"...Can prog rock get any better? Many people can't take the avante-garde intensity of Relayer, or they warm up to it slowly. This probably is the most aggressive outing from YES, which is a good thing I think - when "aggressive" equates to rivers of musical power (these guys are ON like never before) and lakes reflecting lands far away (in your minds eye - the music takes you there, picture: "Snakes are coiled upon the granite...horsemen ride into the west. Moons are rising on the planet...where the worst must suffer like the rest". "Truth conceals itself in error. History reveals it's face: days of ecstasy and terror invent the future that invents the race".) But, the aggression evolves to beauty just as you forgot to breath. Gates does the tension & release thing so much you'll split into two. After you pull yourself back together, better get breathin' because next up is Sound Chaser! This has to be the most pounding, freaky Rock ensemble piece ever layed down, I haven't heard anything like it elsewhere, in any musical genre. WOW, POWERFUL SONGS! Singing doesn't dominate this album, but what vocals Jon does lay down are some of the best on any album to me. Thankfully, there is a quiet song on the album - if you call that quiet...To Be Over just sounds that way in relation to what came before. It is one of the more gentle moments, at least at first. There is an intensity (remember, that YES kind) hiding underneath. You can always count on a YES song to take you on an interesting ride. I guess To Be Over is Steve Howe's baby in a way and you can tell, it has his signature tightly-structured (not in a classical sense) guitar inspired layered genius everywhere. It is a very beautiful piece! Check out Howe's fantastic 2001 release Natural Timbre (all instrumental) to see his great remaking of it. When I was a teen, I used to let my turntable just reload this album over and over, sometimes all night. YES, IT'S THAT GOOD! One of only a few that intrigued me that much. If you can get in tune with this, it is a very special album. This is prog-rock paradise! The Extra Gates run-through on this great Remaster is so enjoyable...can I have ten more? Nice packaging with lyrics and great track notes in the forward. IF YOU LIKE ADVENTURE, TAKE A RIDE ON RELAYER...THE ROGER DEAN ART IS WORTH IT BY ITSELF...ENJOY!