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YES! YES! YES!

I found myself wandering around a branch of HMV (not the proggiest of shops, unlike the fabulous ST Records in Dudley) when I saw the new Yes album The Quest. Now, I’ve been a Yes fan since Time And A Word but have been a little disappointed since Fly From Here, however emboldened by the review in Prog [123], I bought it. So glad I did. It’s a Yes album for the past and the future.

From the opening fanfare of Geoff Downes’ synths it sets the scene and the bar. Swirling melodies, interesting lyrics and Yes’ signature choral and vocal harmonies. Steve Howe, as last original man standing, leads the way but every player has the space and opportunity to contribute. Downes’ keyboard work supports the songs, solos like previous other incumbents in that role but remains his own man.

For many fans Yes=Jon Anderson but here Jon Davison more than follows in Anderson’s shoes and brings out his own distinctive tones. The rhythm section has the solid dependable emphasis that Alan White brought after the intricacies of the Buford years, and Billy Sherwood brings alive the contributions of Chris Squire but without hogging the spotlight. This is a version of Yes that brings new life while referencing the old; you might also notice the sliding guitar chords of Starship Trooper and the steel and keyboard lines playing off each other like the band on the Relayer album.