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"Having blown hot and cold for (too) many years, Yes's 23rd album finds a somewhat unexpected inspiration in the light of its latest twists and turns and forced (or not) personnel changes."
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4/5
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Two Yes albums in the space of two years? This was an event that had not occurred since the turn of the millennium, and seemed to herald a resurgence of activity after the Covid-related hiatus and the disappearance of its historic rhythm section following the death of Alan White.
The band's announcement of the presence of music from the sessions of "The Quest", an album somewhat redeeming in comparison to its predecessor but nevertheless lacking in inspiration, could have made the reviewer nervous when it came time to start listening to this new opus offered in six tracks to follow the vinyl format, completed by three bonus tracks.
The opening track, 'Cut From the Stars', dispels some of these doubts: Billy Sherwood's lilting bass and Jon Davison's confident vocals illuminate this first track, in which there's a fine balance between the various protagonists. Without neglecting the melodic aspect, Yes distills some of its traditional elements here.
These elements are immediately echoed in the two epic tracks that follow ('All Connected' and 'Luminosity'), composed of numerous variations on themes, where complex but not overly melodic vocals alternate with instrumental parts supported by the musicians' flawless technique. With a little guitar solo here, symphonic keyboards there and a rumbling bass just right, all supported by a once again inspired drumming, the shadow of the '70s clearly hangs over the whole, but delivered with a definite modernity.
At 14 minutes, 'Mirror to the Sky' beautifully confirms the band's renewed form. Mainly driven by Steve Howe's guitar, but also by Geoff Downes's keyboards, with a symphonic solo at the end, the track takes us on a journey to the heart of modern Yes, with a nod to ... "Drama", with vocal harmonies reminiscent of "Into the Lens". And what can we say about the mid-song chorus, with its jubilant build-up to a reprise of the initial theme? A theme then magnified in the conclusion of an epic that we can't wait to discover live.
After such a musical frenzy, the sequence offered by 'Circles of Time' proves as judicious as ever. This magnificent ballad delivers an enchanting melody accompanied by sober acoustic guitar, positioning Jon Davison as more than just Jon Anderson's successor. As for the bonus tracks, only the first of these, 'Unknown Place', is worth mentioning, particularly for its second part, in which the instrumentalists compete in technicality in a sort of mastered jam.
Having blown hot and cold for (too) many years, Yes's 23rd album finds a somewhat unexpected inspiration in the light of its latest twists and turns and forced (or not) personnel changes. Disregarding the "it was better before", and other "since the departure of ...", the objective listener must give "Mirror to the Sky" a more than attentive listen. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
 01. Cut From The Stars (05:25)
02. All Connected (09:02)
03. Luminosity (09:04)
04. Living Out Their Dream (04:45)
05. Mirror To The Sky (13:53)
06. Circles of Time (04:59)
07. Unknown Place (08:15)
08. One Second Is Enough (04:14)
09. Magic Potion (04:08)
LINEUP:
Billy Sherwood: Chant / Basse / Choeurs
Geoff Downes: Claviers
Jay Schellen: Batterie / Percussions
Jon Davison: Chant / Chœurs
Steve Howe: Guitares / Choeurs
F.a.m.e. Orchestra: Invité
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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Quelle change d'entendre encore du YES inédit aujourd'hui. Bon, on pourra toujours dire qu'il y a de moins de membres des débuts, mais çà reste une petite famille avec des liens à ASIA et un chanteur qu'on accusait de copier Yes avec GLASS HAMMER. Ben, au moins, il n'a plus besoin de faire semblant ! Bon, meilleur album de YES depuis Fly From Here (les deux versions comprises). Un chant de JON un peu moins nian nian, quelques morceaux qui accrochent avec une entrée en matière CUT FROM THE STAR bien efficace. Et une suite, mirror to the sky, qui, à elle seule justifie l'écoute de l'album. Je suis déçu de "All connected", mou, avec un je ne sais quoi de "on ne sait pas trop où çà veut aller". Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir ! On n'est pas loin du 4/5. Les trois morceaux sur CD bonus plutôt moyens, ne rajoutent rien à l'album. 
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READERS
3.8/5 (6 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (6 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH YES
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT YES
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