Yes
Big Generator

THE REVIEW

If "90125" was a spacetime passage into the Yes universe, the "Big Generator" confirms the crew's direction and looks back, as if they were light-years away, to the years of Roger Dean's covers. For the indomitable classic-progressive fans, it is almost the abandonment of all hope.

Here... they will meet the fate of Genesis. Trevor Rabin remains and co-produces the album. All made in USA. And it shows. The star-spangled Yes still keep well away from pop, offering nonetheless a product up to their standards.
Since 1983, they have reveled in the glories of "90125", now Trevor drives the engine. We are in 1987, wandering phase. One can't say they were saved by the great guitarist, but he certainly kept these English gentlemen, with already a huge career and seminal works of rock behind them, in motion. There was the risk they'd drop anchor. Alan White, in particular.

Everything sounds relentlessly cold, sharp sounds that will test your speaker's tweeters, lots of hi-tech guitars, meticulously crafted hard-progressive and sometimes too complex. The singles released went unnoticed compared to the epic "Owner of...", much less successful but not to be discarded. "Rhythm of Love" flows well and overall presents the sound that will be revealed in the grooves. Energetic... seems to say... we're back!! Elaborate choral parentheses and riffs that make you tap the steering wheel. Perfection is obvious in everything, as it's obvious to say.
Trevor Rabin conducts the orchestra with full respect for the colossal individualities. The "title track" sharpens the mind with its curious composition. Excellent prog rock with continuous changes. The following "Shoot High Aim Low" might be the best track. Splendid and sweeping. Even having a mild rhythm, it involves the listener with countless nuances. "Almost like love" is a neurotic piece with the customary Yes alchemies of the period. Very technical solo by Rabin.

"Love will find a way" is the other single. A ballad with a "simple", let's keep in mind the context, very commercial tone preceded by a pointless string intro. The two following tracks "Final Eyes", "I'm Running" might soften the nostalgia of "Close to the Edge" and similar. The classic Yes style played in a modern key. Very beautiful melodies and room for virtuosity. Delights for any musician. On "I'm running" the prog further exaggerates pushing creativity to the limit. Repeated listening is needed. "Holy Lamb" tucks the listener in bed, partly tortured by the jagged sounds of the whole.

Big Generator is the second of the three chapters of the Rabin trilogy. It would have been impossible to recreate a "90125", the chosen path is to balance the new with the old. Some tracks are much less immediate like "Hold On". Yes are having fun playing more Hard, but without completely abandoning the lines of the past. The sound needed softening, but Trevor had free rein over the arrangements. The cover is at a historic low, but the content certainly is not.

Approach it with calmness, it is not to be discarded. Indeed.