KEYS TO ASCENSION

I missed this bit of info (the classic Yes reunion gig) back then, but then gain the prog web forum groups where not really efficient or even active back in 95, and even if they had been, It'd probably have heard it too late (I only started my web addiction a small decade later), but the Yes classic quintet reunion was most likely a real buzz, especially for those living in the new world. I was quite surprised when I saw this Roger dean logo double Yes affair, because I'd been used to these awful and very disappointing 80's and early 90's releases, but I brought this set home with only a tiny listen in the record store. The double album coming with a Dean artwork is a bit of a strange deal, as the group chose not to do a 70's Double-Live thing, but opted to fill the rest of second disc with two lengthy recently recorded tracks, forgetting the rest of the live material from their reunion concert.

As such, it was probably a smart move, because it brought much exposition to those new tracks, but knowing now that a second set came later, I can't help but feeling manipulated. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the two Keys sets, but I'd have been happier with a Keys Live and another Keys studio set. Anyway, on to the first disc and the more obvious selection of tracks from that reunion gig. It was a real pleasure to hear Awaken and the S&G cover of America. I was a bit wary of the TFTO track, but they chose the better track from that sub-par album, but it's still the low point of that concert, AFAIAC. Onward is a bit of a surprising choice, but it works rather well. The studio stuff is not bad either also but those two tracks (That That Is and Be The One) sonically strongly remind me of the Drama album. Actually they made me re-discovered this album that I had sort of discarded as the beginning of the end for the group, until this double set.

The announcement of this album made me jump up and down when they reunited and were planning a world tour playing all their classic tracks. Before we got a chance to see them on the European continent, they had released the atrocious open Your eyes album, but when they did tour for that album, the set list was very similar to that of San Obispo, with hardly any newer tracks. The following Keys To Ascension 2 set hass a lesser choice of live tracks, but a so-much better selection of new studio tracks, so I'd be hard-pressed to choose one over the other.

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