YES |
| "The Ladder's"
been lowered and the world's best known "YES" men invite you
to climb the rungs into tomorrow with them. It truly is hard to believe
its been 30 years since their first record and amazingly, this phenomenon
known simply as "YES" continues to lead the way as Progressive
music pioneers with one of the most important albums of their career.
"The Ladder", it can be safely assumed by anyone reading this, is not your typical cash-in re-hash from another veteran Rock act with nothing substantial to contribute or the latest outlet for an empty well disguised under a sellable title. It's the latter half of 1999, and 80% of the classic lineup, led by the Anderson/Howe team, of note considering their penchant for logging commuter miles the better part of two decades, still lives on! Rather than a comeback, theoretically, the new music best represents a return-one that's seen YES come full circle, and with them the classic style that first put songs like "Roundabout" and "Long Distance Run-around" into Rock radio playlists and kept 'em there 25 years later! Sadly, "The Ladder" marks the final work of famed producer Bruce Fairbairn but his undoubted influence in helping to achieve that classic-era YES and bringing them up to future standards cannot be overlooked. On that note, "Homeworld (The Ladder)" will set listeners off on a nine-plus minute night-flight toward the stars and does double duty also acting as theme song for the PC game of the same name compliments of Sierra Studios and found briefly for listeners with access to a CD-Rom player. Resting on past achievement would not seem to form the basis for YES' latest masterpiece as there's an evident sense of purpose and an aura that surrounds the likes of first single, "Lightning Strikes", "Finally" and "The Messenger", yet every moment of every song beckons the listener to safely enter the friendly confines and enjoy life for its own sake. "The Ladder" is an altogether workable album, noteworthy of its persistently challenging musical patterns interspersed with intricate ballads. it won't be checking into the "Classic Rock" hotel anywhere soon. But it's long and tenuous at times-a marked departure from radio friendly 80's hits that characterized the likes of "90125" and "Big Generator" so expectations of swift Pop melodies may quickly be extinguished. Classic moments notwithstanding, by design, "The Ladder" finds YES continuing in the exploratory fashion that's seen them climb to the top in networking instrumental superiority with technical innovation. Progressive Reformers past, present and future. Released by Beyond Music. Review by Vinnie Apicella |