Yes - Fly From Here - Frontiers Records 1/7/11

Written by Ken Foster

Ok, cards on the table. I'm trying to think of something good to say about this album. Paradoxically I can't find a lot of bad things to say about it either. Truth is, it's full of great arrangements, melodies and writing but (and for me this is a big BUT), I expected more from a studio album after 10 years of waiting for one. The title track is long and there's enough in there to make it unmistakabley Yes but there's something missing.

Nothing on here comes remotely close to Awaken, Close To The Edge or Gates of Delirium.

I think it's the magical touch that Peter Gabriel brought to Genesis. Yes without Anderson come across as a bit Karaoke. The Horn, Downes presence doesn't help with tradmark perfectionism on the production front but isn't it kind of old hat? The title track was written by Horn and Downes circa Drama and the fact that it's been regurgitated indicates a lack of new ideas/material. After 10 years that's quite a disappointment.

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The single was awful. The album is better. Let's leave it at that before I get hate mail.

3/5