Yes
Drama

THE REVIEW

In 1980, something incredible happens: Yes announces that the founding members, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, have been replaced by... Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, better known as BUGGLES. Yes, the very same inventors of Bubble-gum music, authors of the ultimate hit Video Killed The Radio Star, which brought the first success to the newly born MTV.
The two step in as both musicians and writers, and believe it or not, Yes really needed them. The previous album, Tormato, was now old and chaotic, with synthetic sounds dominating the short compositions of the album. With Drama, the goal is not to erase the old sound but to renew and make it more contemporary. The two Buggles have always been fans of Yes, which makes the task easier. Additionally, they are excellent musicians with good ideas, and the result is surprising.

The beginning is entrusted to Machine Messiah, a beautiful piece in its opening featuring a great rhythmic section by Squire and White, with razor-like synths by Downes. Over it all, Howe's guitar reigns superbly. Horn delivers an excellent vocal performance; he doesn’t have the same timbre as Anderson, but he is equally pleasant and engaging. White Car, the next track, is a typical Buggles song: surreal lyrics and minimal music. Howe, on the other hand, showcases a disco-echoing guitar in the following track, Does It Really Happen?, which in Italy was used as the opening for a musical TV show. The song is well-constructed and executed, just like Into The Lens, with the chorus later picked up by Buggles (i'm a camera) for their own song. Run Through The Light is a piece similar to the compositions of The Police, especially in the singing, where Horn is very reminiscent of Sting. The conclusion, entrusted to Tempus Fugit, offers listeners a great performance by White and Squire, so much so that it was included in their last tour in 2003.

Shortly after the support tour, the band definitively splits, but the album's legacy will be felt when in 1983, the band Cinema with White and Squire, calls on Anderson for the debut album and Horn for production. The group changes its name to Yes and... 90125 will mark a new beginning with different sounds not always embraced by the old fans.