Yes - The Yes Album Panegyric A new high-resolution remix by Steven Wilson polishes this early 70s prog-rock gem nicely. Review: Paul Lester, Classic Rock Magazine Working backwards somewhat, The Yes Album (1971) is the second in a series of expanded Yes reissues, following on from Panegyrics comprehensive work on 1972s Close To The Edge. It comes in CD/DVD-A and Blu-Ray forms, and once again prog major-domo Steven Wilson has been on hand, providing a new stereo version in high resolution, as well as a new mix in 5.1 surround for that full immersive experience. Wilson is at pains to point out that this is a remix, not a remastering job. On the surface, it should sound the way it always did, only clearer, he told Classic Rock. It might be like cleaning the Sistine Chapel - you havent altered the art in anyway; you just scraped off a layer of ageing. Then again, thanks to the band, co-producer Eddy Offord and the facilities at Advision, The Yes Album always did sound great, a pristine example of what could be achieved in the studio. The songs were also punchy enough to be performed live, the six tracks on the original album (there are various extended cuts and live versions here) showcasing the members individual skills - notably new boy Steve Howe - as well as their ability to mesh superbly. Good tunes, too, or rather micro-melodies: The Yes Album features four lengthy, multipartite suites. Each of these contain sections that could, notwithstanding Jon Andersons fanciful peregrinations, and in an alternate, more tolerant universe, have been hits (one of them, Ive Seen All Good People, was actually released as a single in truncated form). Yours Is No Disgrace is a powerful opener, Chris Squires bassline representing sonically the attacking space vessels in the lyrics, although what Anderson meant by the shining, flying purple wolfhound is anyones guess. Clap is three minutes of acoustic finger-picking that appears to have wandered in from a bluegrass album. It also demonstrated Howes versatility because by the next track, Starship Trooper, hes using a flanger to cosmic effect. Four minutes in and theres a celestial chorale that sounds like the Beach Boys in space, while the closing part (aka Wurm) creates images of battleships aggregating on the event horizon in your minds eye. Ive Seen All Good People has a reference to instant karma, as well as a rhythmic guitar passage thats very Abbey Road, while A Venture is Beatles-esque. But these nods aside, The Yes Album effected a total break with rock tradition. The title of the final track? Perpetual Change. Next stop: Fragile. BUY THE ALBUM BluRay & CD USA amzn.to/1ee5eA7 Canada amzn.to/1diEOtu UK amzn.to/1diEMSq Italy amzn.to/1cSTNiS France amzn.to/NpA5iP Germany amzn.to/1ixqhPU Spain amzn.to/PKdzDg Japan amzn.to/1gHturN DVD-A & CD USA amzn.to/1iXQ2qQ Canada amzn.to/1iWYX0a UK amzn.to/1diEAm3 Italy amzn.to/1meEEeZ France amzn.to/1iXPUHN Germany amzn.to/1htJYFk Spain amzn.to/1gA8C9t Japan amzn.to/1p5Twct Find out more at yesworld/2014/03/yes-album-remastered-5-1-stereo-expanded-steven-wilson-2014/
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:00:02 +0000
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