TALES FROM YESTERDAY: A VIEW FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SKY (YES TRIBUTE)

I am actually not too keen to purchase a tribute CD because I'd rather listen to the original song by the band. When this tribute, Tales From Yesterday : A View From The South Side Of The Sky (Yes) was released I bought the cassette version and I was impressed with Don't Kill The Whale performed by Magellan. This Magellan's version of song which I like the most from Yes Tormato is really different from the original version as it has changed significantly from its original form in its arrangement and style. I could never imagine that the song was set in techno disco style with industrial vocal line and drumming. Wanted to get a better sound, I then purchased the CD sometime in 1996.

This tribute CD opens with Roundabout where Robert Berry plays all instrumentation and vocals augmented by Steve Howe (guitar cadenza). For Yes aficionados, might feel that this version is quite disappointing with the fact that it had a great ambience created through inverted piano sound followed brilliantly by Howe's acoustic guitar. This portion has been replaced by Robert Berry with all electric instruments which kill the soul of the song.

Track 2 Siberian Khatru does not change significantly from its origibal version. Only at the ending part there is a deliberate insertion of Bill Bruford's solo album that made some "clicks" for me to think about the passages in relation to bil Bruford's work. I think it would be better if this band, Stanley Snail, adds their own arrangement at the ending part. It's quite strange knowing Kevin Gilbert was involved in the band as I knew that he made a great work for Genesis song compiled in Supper's Ready CD.

It's quite relieving to enjoy Mood for A Day with Steve Morse replacing Steve Howe. Morse plays guitar in different style than Howe even though in general you cannot find something substantially different during this song is played. However, if you enjoy the subtleties of is guitar style, you would find the difference between the two.

Don't Kill The Whale is really the most attractive track from this tribute compilation. It starts ambient with a sound of keyboard followed nicely with electric piano that indicates a dynamic opening for the song in modern sound recording and remixes through programmed drumming. The song flows very nicely with Trent Gardner vocal, backed with his brother Wayne Gardner who plays guitars and bass. The guitar solo has been made different and there is a passage where the vocal is performed in choir during musical break. It's so nice ...

Turn of The Century from Going For The One album is basically performed by the original member: Steve Howe but this time the vocal is performed by Renaissance lead vocalist Annie Haslam. Annie Haslam voice does really fit with this song - it blends beautifully and in a way, it's really great composition. The song flows nicely with Howe's great acoustic guitar work backed with David A Biglin's keyboards.

It's quite odd knowing a progressive metal band like Shadow Gallery plays the music of Yes. But that's OK as the song,Release, Release, is basically having a relatively fast tempo and energetic in nature and style. It's nothing truly different than the original arrangement, only that the drum solo part is a bit different. You might recall the original version is better.

World Trade whom the album was heavily influenced by Yes performs Wonderous Stories with Billy Sherwood plays most of instruments plus singing. Unfortunately it does no better than the original, you'd better skip it.

Cairo has been known with their albums that were heavily influenced by ELP and now at this compilation they play Southside of The Sky with the same arrangement as its original version. It does no better than the original. The other cover version that I consider worth enjoying is the Glass Hammer one.

Wow . now Mr Moraz plays Soon with his Steinway D concert grand piano which does sound really good!!! Oh yes .. this is really cool. It's basically the part of Gates of Delirium where Jon sings at the slow part at the end of the epic which talks about war. It's really cool, Mr. Moraz!

Enchant plays Changes in almost the same fashion as the original version, so.. nothing is special for this and you'd probably prefer the Yes version. Robert Berry join forces with Peter Banks plays Astral Traveler in instrumental version with practically no significant difference from the original version but the instrumental style using guitar. Steve Morse plays The Clap excellently. The last track Starship Trooper is not something good to enjoy because it suffers major deficiency with Damian Wilson voice quality which does not seem to fit with the song. It involves good musicians like Tony Fernandez (Rick Wakeman's British Rock Ensemble, altogether with Damian Wilson) and Adam Wakeman.

Overall, the tribute CD is not something interesting to buy, actually. The only chief reason for me to buy was the fact that Don't Kill The Whale is really good, plus Turn of The Century and The Clap. The rest is not that compelling. So I leave it up to you to decide. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW (i-Rock! Music Community)