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Showing posts from March, 2011

The Yes Album 40 Years On

To listen to a piece of music released 40 years ago you would expect it to date, not all when I listened to the whole album last week on the North Devon Coast 11 miles from South Molton where it was rehearsed I was astonished at how fresh and timeless it sounded no wonder it still receives such a warm reception when they play excerpts, probably tonight somewhere in the United States.   The Yes Album Bruford/Squire/Howe pound out the opening salvos locked together like musical lovers. Then the first huge bass accent, another and in comes the burning Hammond sound. A slight upward movement and then the first appearance of a synthesiser on a Yes CD and in comes Steve’s beautiful clean guitar lines dancing over the top and at 1.30 the first block vocals. The Yes choir but equal in the mix and then a rotating lick from Steve and we are off. The block vocals now form a call and response with Steve’s guitar injections. At 3.20 the music unwinds and the bass takes up the tune reverse guitar