Yes
90125

THE REVIEW

A very simple guitar riff marks the return of the old rock-prog stalwarts under new synthetic guises in 1983. The events that led to this sudden shift are well-known: after "Drama," Horn and Downes left to pursue other projects, but in the meantime, they had saved Yes from certain shipwreck in the turbulent waters of the '80s. So, White and Squire recruited old friend Tony Kaye and guitarist Trevor Rabin for a new group. Anderson, feeling nostalgic, returned to his friends after four years of exile, and there was no need to change the name.

The curious title is nothing more than the catalog number under which the album is registered with Atlantic; produced by Trevor Horn, it's a masterful example of successful chart-topping pop. There are no memorable tracks, but the group chooses a more profitable path for musical quality compared to Genesis, who in the same year released a beautiful song, "Mama," contained in an unfortunate album. Practically everyone knows the launch single, "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"; it's simple, immediate, and above all, catchy, climbing the charts effortlessly, propelling the album to become the group's best-seller. Rabin is a guitarist fully oriented towards catchy riffs, but this does not diminish his reputation as a good musician, and "It Can Happen" is an example of great musical harmony with the others, as is "Hold On." White and Squire are at ease; they have fun and entertain, the drum beats are delightful as is the ever-prominent bass, "Changes" is another beautiful song where Rabin shares vocals with Anderson. Now the atmosphere is that of consumer pop-rock, but everything is crafted with care, the instrumental parts are well delineated, and it's a real pleasure to follow the development of the melodies of "Our Song" or those of the beautiful and energetic instrumental "Cinema."

Anyone who thought of an end for "Yes" was proven wrong. Even Wakeman admitted to being terribly disappointed not to have participated in the work. Probably, the secret to the survival of this band, still in great shape today, lies in the fact that the continuous lineup changes, while maintaining a solid core, have allowed for a renewal of ideas and diverse expressions that have continually fueled the fire of creativity. In this regard, the comparison with Genesis or ELP is relentless.