ANDERSON / WAKEMAN: THE LIVING TREE

When neither of them were no longer members of Yes, it was natural for Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman to do something together. It was also not too surprising that they opted for a format that put Anderson's distinctive voice and Wakeman's characteristic playing sharply in focus. The result is a very stripped-down affair that is very nearly completely acoustic, dominated by lead vocals and Classical piano. There are no Moog-synthesiser or electric guitar solos, not even any drums or bass guitar. As such, this is not a (progressive) Rock album. This means that, even though Jon's voice and Rick's playing are both supremely distinctive and instantly recognisable, and that the album features the characteristic Roger Dean art work, The Living Tree cannot be compared to a Yes album (and it can certainly not, like the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album, be counted as a Yes album in everything but name). And, of course, making a Yes(-like) album was clearly not the intention here.

What we have here is a thoroughly pleasant set of undemanding songs driven by grand piano and vocals. While listening to these songs you get the feeling that they came easily to Jon and Rick and that they had a pleasant time recording them. It is an enjoyable listen, but it is not an album that lends itself to many repeated listens. I can recommend this only to serious Yes fans and to devoted followers of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman in particular. The general Prog fan can safely pass by.

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