RELAYER

This is quite a prolific album. I find it quite stunning, in fact. This release from one of Brittan's best follows in the footsteps of their classic album Close to the Edge, and does it beautiful justice.

This album is an adventure that Yes has never created before, this time to the Gates of Delirium and Back. Claustrophobic synths, haunting melodies, beautiful instrumental sections, and even an off the wall guitar solo all add up in wonderful orchestration to create a powerful effect.

The reason I compared it to Close to the Edge is 1. it's a lot of meaty musical material, and 2. it's in roughly the same song format?a ~20 minute track and then two ~10 minute tracks. This gives them a lot of roomy space to show off all their flashy technical ability, and all their sense of quiet cantabile motifs. This album, however, feels a lot more sophisticated and dark than Close to the Edge (which maintained throughout a lot of the album a cheery or rejoicing feel); this album DOES however avoid the use of filler as per to Tales From Topographic Oceans (thank god).

All in all, if you like Yes and you want to hear another prolific work from them that spins you in an entirely different direction?look no further, this won't disappoint.

4.5 Stars