| Yes – The Gates of Delirium Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Peace, war, fighting for peace (sic), the whirling climb down after a tumultuous battle, the soporific lament that it was all worth it. That's what I see, anyway, or something along those lines. Wonderful, wonderful, hair-raising music, and, for once, tangible lyrics. The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge and The Gates of Delerium were the fruits of a golden era. | |
| Yes – Sound Chaser Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I find it hard to comment on the lyrics to this song, not because they're as nebulous as ever, but simply because they introduce and then pale before some of the most incredibly blistering music of Yes' halcyon days of the mid 70s. All you mixers and samplers out there (who claim to be able to 're-invent' music), take the best bits from the best instrumental breaks from the best bands anywhere in the world, of any time, and you'll not even come close to the originality, diversity and sheer exhuberance of Sound chaser, or, for that matter, the 'battle' sequence in Gates of Delerium. As Steve Howe once said in a VH1 interview, 'Hurrah for the seventies'. Hear hear. |
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| Yes – Our Song Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Presumably a reflection of a better then average gig in Toledo? Anyhow, a straightforward (for Yes) and upbeat song that always lifts my spirits. |
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| Yes – Homeworld (The Ladder) Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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As far as I'm aware, the creator of the 'Homeworld' computer game invited Yes to get do some music for it because the game was analogous to the fragmentation story told on the Roger Dean covers of Fragile and Yessongs. (Where the little world breaks up and its people guide the pieces through space until they colonise another planet.) The lyrics thus tell the story, and though it's in traditional Yessian style, you at least get the overall gist. Rather like reading a newspaper in a steam room. BTW, the 'The Ladder' CD had an exclusive interview of the band with the Homeworld bloke, supposedly discussing the whys and wherefores of the collaboration. This 'group' interview comprised Jon Anderson ruminating with the gamester while the rest of the band sat there (silently) looking decidedly bored and uncomfortable. I recall quipping at the time that it seemed Jon Anderson had found himself a new backing band. 'Magnification' only confirmed my fears. |
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| Yes – A Venture Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| A lost gem from The Yes Album, outshone for many by Perpetual Change, Starship Trooper and YIND. I love the quirkyness of this haunting song, whose lyrics remind me of my dad, who liked (too much of a) drink and yet was no sinner. | |
| Yes – Close to the Edge Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Yes have long been criticised (often by Yes fans) as being overblown, pretentious, even silly. Well, if pretentious, silly people can create something like CTTE, then bring them on. CTTE is one of the most powerful, haunting, mesmerising things I have ever come across. (In case you're wondering, I call it a 'thing' because I compare it not only to other music, but to other things of wonder, musical or not). |
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