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Rating: The collaborative trilogy of Trevor Rabin with Yes concludes in 1994 with this interesting work "Talk". Preceded by 90125 and Big Generator. A decade of stylistic shift that exhausted the ranks of admirers from the classic period, creating a new following of listeners more inclined towards modernity. On the level of remuneration, popularity, revival, and sales, it is the best period for the Senators of progressive rock, so much so that, appropriately, the record label immediately after the advent of the CD is busy with reissues of all kinds with the necessary remastering. Paradoxically, the change in style leads to curiosity about the previous works. As if to say, "if they did this today, who knows what they did before!"
"Talk", according to the credits, is a Rabin production. Yes from that period are very dependent on him, so much so that he declares the group's actual laziness and the difficulty of getting them into the studio. The music is all his and also the Jacaranda Room recording studio in Los Angeles, the lyrics by Anderson.
The music is "progressive stars and stripes", in a Yes key. Technically, it is impeccable. Sounds with technology in spades. So perfect it doesn't seem played by real instruments. White's drumming is very powerful, sometimes fierce, and even too carefully crafted and filtered in the tone. Sharp guitars, Anderson's usual voice preserved like formalin, Squire's bass audible in notes with very low dynamics, almost like air movements. Tony Kaye is only present with the Hammond, enjoyable on "The Calling". A tribute to himself for the little space available. Trevor Rabin is in the role of a top-notch arranger and multi-instrumentalist, à la Geddy Lee of Rush. He imposes a certain style and trend on the work but leaves Yes unbridled. A beautiful album not to compare to "Close to the Edge" or "Relayer". Even the cover art is deprived of Roger Dean's mighty airbrush works. An essential Yes lettering by new entry Peter Max. The names of the musicians written on the back warn the consumer: "We are Yes, but this. You are warned". But the music?
It all opens with "The Calling". It opens the tracklist well. Choral and airy music, positive and powerful tones. Repeated terrifying breaks that would make genre enthusiasts drool... Choruses only they know how to do. Squire's voice is very present with that half-tone more.
"I Am Waiting" is an anthem with simple intonation and melody. Perhaps too long.
"Real Love" is also written by Squire. It recalls City of Love. Perhaps the closest to the past.
"State of Play" is the little gem. Very energetic. A great piece. Sharp hi-tech guitar.
"Walls" was the launch single. Roger Hodgson, the voice of Supertramp's Logical Song, for example, is called into action for the score. Why this collaboration, only they know. The result is a beer and sausage ballad. Summerish.
"Where Will You Be" is introspective, with a rhythmic arrangement like a soundtrack. There is a delightful guitar solo almost at the end. A lullaby too long and dispersive.
"Endless Dream" is a 14-minute suite in total. Worth the whole CD.
It starts with the instrumental "Silent Spring". Splendid in execution. Powerful and haunting, full of sounds. Interesting the intro with the piano loop. There's much innovation. All in 2 minutes. Headphones mandatory. A bit Rush.
Follows the long "Talk". A stroll arm in arm with Trevor Rabin who has ample space for experimentation, creating cosmic sound parentheses, breaks, and reprises. And uses Yes to do it!! The piece ends with a beautiful chorus plus a tear-jerking solo; it is Rabin's farewell to the fans. A goodbye.
"Endless Dream" serves as the closing credits.
Yes with this album were awarded in the USA for innovation. It is not one of the masterpieces of their very long career, excellent as always the purely technical side. For the devotees of the old style, it is a half misstep. However, remains all at high levels; they can't do less than that, and that's not little. From this formation, it is easy to have high expectations.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 The Calling (06:56)
(Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire)
Feel the calling of a miracle
In the presence of the word
Now we hold the right to rearrange
How the stories can be heard
In the beginning is the future
And the future is at hand
I'll be calling voices of Africa
Be the rhythm to the plan
From the Congo to Lenasia
Be the writing on the wall
I'll be calling the colors of India
See the Asian life explode
Chorus:
Head into the headlight
Don't turn from the rain
There's a fire raging somewhere near
Liek a longtime friend who's
Seen it darker than ebony
Take off on the turnpike
(Asking for the first call)
Give me more of the same
(Asking for a song)
There's a fire burning in my heart again
I'll be calling the dragons of China
See the dancers of the Nile
See the wings of change are on display
This revelation mine
Feel the calling of a miracle
In the presence of the word
(Chorus)
(Instrumental break)
Feel the calling of a miracle
This revelation mine
(Chorus)
Feel the calling of a miracle
In the presence of the word
Now we hold the right to rearrange
How the stories can be heard
In the beginning is the future...
02 I Am Waiting (07:25)
(Talk, 1994)
Am I waking to this magic
Am I seeing all is human
Human after all
I wanna be inside your heart
Are you ready
I wanna love forever
Are you thinking
I wanna be inside your heart
What I'm thinking
I wanna know you're with me
Highways, stairways, many ways
To be open tonight
High time, look inside
Your life, I am waiting
I am waiting: are you ready?
I am waiting: can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
It happened in the water
The heaven will fall
The break in the water
The secret birth
Said she loves me I believe her
Waited lifetimes say this to you
I wanna be inside your heart
Are you ready
I wanna love forever
Are you thinking
I wanna be inside your heart
What I'm thinking
I wanna know you're with me
Highways, stairways, many ways to be open tonight
High time, look inside
Your life, I am waiting
Say you need me I'm yours
Say you need me just because
(It's our freedom...)
It's our freedom, hear me now
We are made to be here now
We'll be waiting for the word
As the healing of the world
Make the promises to be true
All my life my world is you
I am waiting: Are you ready?
Are you ready?
I am waiting: Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
04 State of Play (05:00)
(Trevor Rabin/Jon Anderson)
You can hear the siren screaming
Take me to the promised land
See the intervention
Take you higher and higher
See we are the giving world
We are responsible
We're not about to break
CHORUS
It's just a state of play
It's just a state of play
This is the revolution coming
With the giving world
No need to wait for your
Appointment is made
No need to ask for help, it's in
The love we breathe
Dancing in the new design
CHORUS
Secret needing from this love I'm feeding
High time flying monumental
Reaching to God love
Secret needing all i really
Want to know right now
The state of play
Are you looking at it
Is it looking at you
CHORUS
No point in kidding let the
Children split the atom
A firm believer this appointment with love
All those who look for glory
They see the flags are flying
They hear the siren screaming
CHORUS
Secret needing from this love I'm feeding
High time flying
All I really want to know
Right now, right now
(I want to be inside your heart)
I want to know right now is
This the state of play
Are you looking at it
05 Walls (04:57)
(Trevor Rabin/Roger Hodgson/Jon Anderson)
Don't you know it's my way out
To be on my own
When I feel like crying out I do it best alone
Can you give me love and
Protection to shield my heart
All the fear I feel from doubt
Is tearing me apart
CHORUS
I wanna love, I wanna give
I want to find another way to live
Another shout, another cry
And the walls come tumbling down
Don't you know there's now way out
Your pain's your own
And the more we scream and shout
The more we feel alone
I can feel my anger rising
Am I to blame?
And I'm not gonna keep it inside me
Do you feel the same?
CHORUS
And I'm calling you
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