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"Jon Anderson, the singer of Yes, delivers us with "1000 Hands", which is very similar to his best album."
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5/5
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At 75, Jon Anderson has nothing left to prove. Charismatic and demanding leader of the emblematic "Yes", a band whose name alone can serve as a definition of progressive rock, the man has a rich and impressive career. And yet, here he is about to make us with his last album, "1000 Hands - Chapter One", the same move as David Bowie with "Blackstar". The stroke of the veteran who brings us his best album, or almost. It must be said that Anderson put the means. On the one hand, he's been brooding over this album for almost 30 years, coming back from time to time without finding enough availability to finish it. On the other hand, he surrounds himself with a plethora of people to produce it. Judge for yourselves: in addition to a recurring trio (Tommy Calton on guitar, Michael Franklin on keyboards and Tim Franklin on bass), he offers himself the services of an orchestra, about fifty backup singers and as many musicians, including big names like Chick Corea, Steve Morse, Jean-Luc Ponty, Carmine Appice, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White (here's a good one!), and a band. all Yes is here?), Bobby Kimball, Ian Anderson and Jerry Goodman, justifying the "1000 Hands" of the title.
Let's say it right away, this record is masterful: in-depth compositions, exceptional musicians that serve a collective (masterful solos by Chick Corea on 'WDMCF (Where Does Music Come From)' and Jean-Luc Ponty on '1000 Hands') and work on the breathtaking voices. No wonder when you consider the special care Jon Anderson has always taken with this point, having formed Yes with the ulterior motive of making it a choral group. And here too, the balance between vocal and instrumental parts is prodigious, everything fitting together wonderfully well in the greatest fluidity.
In this respect, we must salute the quality of Michael Franklin's production, precise, limpid, dynamic, which allows us to follow each speaker or to immerse ourselves in the tutti of the musicians with the same listening comfort. Mention should also be made of the remarkable work on the arrangements, which multiplies the layers of instruments and voices, enriching each title with always justified and sought-after interventions, teeming with details that make a simple ballad a monument of pleasure.
The compositions sweep a large number of musical styles (pop, rock, reggae, electro, jazz, classical, world music, gospel, techno... and I forget some) in a true progressive spirit, that of abolishing the borders between these different styles in favour of an orgasmic fusion. If the album starts on a sunny and optimistic note (the cheerful and funky pop of 'First Born Leaders', the dancing reggae of 'Make Me Happy'), the second part is more shady, without however sinking into a frank melancholy (the fluffy 'I Found Myself' with false Beatles' tunes), the most nostalgic 'Twice in a Lifetime') before ending with a grand finale on the eponymous track, subtly sliding from an unbridled jazz-rock to a progressive rock close to Yes.
A word to finish on Jon Anderson's vocals. Time doesn't seem to have any hold on this voice, tenuous, fragile, slightly broken and recognizable among a thousand, whose indefinable charm still works. Always right, capable of admirable harmonies, the singer knows how to show an astonishing vigour and a communicative spirit when needed.
In short, there are 1000 things left to say about "1000 Hands". The best thing you can do is to find out for yourself by getting it as soon as possible so you can listen to it again and again. Its many discoveries ensure that the album will last for an unlimited amount of time and pleasure. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Now (01:13) 02. Ramalama (03:49) 03. First Born Leaders (05:22) 04. Activate (08:51) 05. Make Me Happy (03:50) 06. Now Variations (01:02) 07. I Found Myself (05:05) 08. Twice In A Lifetime (05:06) 09. WDMCF (04:11) 10. 1,000 Hands (Come Up) (08:24) 11. Now And Again (03:39)
LINEUP:
Jon Anderson: Chant Michael Franklin: Claviers / Choeurs / Ukulélé / Clavecin Tim Franklin: Basse / Choeurs / Ukulélé / Violon Électrique Tommy Calton: Guitares Alan White: Invité / Batterie (4) Antonio Esposito: Claviers / Invité Billy Boyd: Invité / Trompette Billy Cobham: Batterie / Invité Bobby Kimball: Invité / Choeurs Bobby Koelble: Guitares / Invité Brandy Moulden: Invité / Violon Électrique Brian Chatton: Claviers / Invité Brian Scanlon: Invité / Trompette Brian Snapp: Invité / Saxophone, Flûte Bunky Garrabrant: Invité / Trompette Carmine Appice: Invité / Batterie (2) Charlie Bisharat: Invité / Violon Charlie Dechant: Invité / Saxophone, Flûte Chick Corea: Invité / Piano (9,10) Chris Charles: Invité / Saxophone Chris Squire: Invité / Basse (4,10) Christie Lenee: Guitares / Invité Crossovers: Invité / Choeurs Dariusz Grabowski: Invité / Accordéon (8) Don Oriolo: Invité / Ukulele Eddie Metz Jr.: Invité / Percussions Edgar Winter: Invité / Saxophone Ian Anderson: Invité / Flûte Traversière (4) Jane Anderson: Invité / Chant (7) Jason Thomas: Invité / Violon Jean-luc Ponty: Invité / Violon (10) Jeff Abbott: Claviers / Invité Jennie Landau: Invité / Violon Électrique Jerry Goodman: Invité / Violon (7) Jocelyn Hsu: Invité / Violon Jonathan Cain: Claviers / Invité Kaitlin Highby: Invité / Violon Électrique Keith Heffner: Claviers / Invité Krissi Franzen: Invité / Violoncelle / Violon Électrique Larry Coryell : Guitares / Invité Matt Brown: Batterie / Invité Michael Winslow: Invité / Effets Spéciaux / Human Beat Box Michelle Jones: Invité / Violon Électrique Mitch Corbin: Invité / Banjo Nana Academy Youth Choir: Invité / Choeurs Olga Kopakova: Invité / Violon Orlando Symphony Orchestra: Invité / Orchestre Pat Frost: Batterie / Invité / Trombone Pat Gulotta: Invité / Trombone Pat Travers: Guitares / Invité Paul Fluery: Invité / Violoncelle / Violon Électrique Rick Derringer: Guitares / Invité Rick Wakeman: Claviers / Invité Robby Steinhardt: Invité / Violon Russel Chalk: Invité / Ukulele Solar Choir: Invité / Choeurs Steady Joseph: Invité / Percussions Steve Howe: Invité / Guitare (11) Steve Morse: Invité / Guitare (4) Steve Walters: Invité / Trompette Stuart Hamm: Basse / Invité Superstars: Invité / Choeurs Tower Of Power: Invité / Cuivres Trevor Rabin: Guitares / Invité Voices Of Lindahl: Invité / Choeurs Zap Mama: Invité / Choeurs
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH JON ANDERSON
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT JON ANDERSON
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