MIRROR TO THE SKY

I would class this as their best effort since Magnification in 2001. Of the 9 tracks,I would rate 3 as Good + ,1 as Good,and 5 not up to much. Track 1 is Radio friendly in a kind of Owner of a Lonely Heart Way,and I'd rate as good 6.5/10 Track 2 is one of my top 3 tracks.Great guitar from Steve at the beginning and close,and I enjoy Jon's vocals here -8/10 Track 3 is more or less the same time as track 2,but I found disjointed and not appealing 5/10 Track 4 is a stinker.Maybe a filler,but if this was one disc,it shouldn't be on 3.5/10 Track 5 is the tile track and is really enjoyable,though it meanders a bit in the 9th minute to the 12th when nothing much goes on.The orchestra joins in at the end.2nd of my top 3. 8/10 Track 6 the final one on the first CD - is just pleasant but a dud ending -could have been relegated to CD2 4.5/10 Track 7 on the bonus disc is my 3rd favourite and really should be on CD1 in place of tracks 4 and 6.Very upbeat,and Geoff Downes eventually shows up,having been redundant most of the album 8/10 Track 8 One Second IS enough ! Another stinker 3/10 Track 9 A pleasant ending,no more,no less 4.5/10

So if the main CD excludes tracks 4 and 6 and includes 8 - we are talking a decent return to form - nowhere near the 'golden years' or The Ladder and Magnification,,but acceptable.Production is good.Steve Howe's guitar is forefront,precise,maybe lacks that 70s power.I enjoy Davison's vocals -some tracks he sings at a lower register and sounds good.Bass and drums are fine.Keyboards ? Pretty useless except on Track 7 -maybe he just wasn't around. Would ant tracks get into YES's top 20 -nope. Worth a listen maybe before you buy *** Good,non essential