FLY FROM HERE

Although not quite at the same level as Close to the Edge (1972), Relayer (1974), or Drama (1980), Fly From Here is a truly great Yes album. Like Drama, Fly From Here is missing two well-known band members: keyboardist Rick Wakeman and lead singer and founding member Jon Anderson. Whereas Trevor Horn has substituted for Anderson on Drama, here the leads are sung by the Québécois singer Benoît David.

The provenance of half of Fly from Here is work done by Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes, then comprising the Buggles, around 1979 and 1980. The two joined Yes for Drama, using some of Horn and Downes' current store of unreleased material. Most of the remaining compositions appear on the 24-minute "Fly from Here" suite, and in the form of the song "Life on a Film Set." Guitarist Steve Howe and bassist Chris Squire are also credited with compositional input for parts of the suite. Of the remaining songs, two are written by Howe; one by Squire, Gerald Johnson, and Simon Sessler; and "Into the Storm," the closing number, is by Horn, Downes, Howe, Squire, David, drummer Alan White, and former touring keyboardist Oliver Wakeman (son of Rick).

The songwriting is strong throughout, with the "Fly From Here" suite and "Into the Storm" worthy of inclusion on any list of Yes's best songs. The production is the equal of the production of any Yes album, which is not surprising considering (a) the improvements in technology since the band was formed, and (b) the fact that Horn was the sole producer. Of particular note is the superb mixing, credited to Tim Weidner. Finally, the instrumental performances are of the quality you'd expect of a Yes album. (In a nice touch, Horn hired percussionist Luís Jardim as a support musician.)

David, who really does sound in places like both Horn and Anderson, turns in a great vocal performance, as does Squire, who provides both backing and co-lead vocals. Howe and Horn also sing on the album, with Howe and David duetting on "Hour of Need."

There are some points on the album that are weaker than others. In particular, Howe's acoustic-guitar solo piece "Solitaire" pales in comparison to similar pieces on prior Yes albums. Furthermore, its pastoral flavor isn't an especially good fit with most of the rest of the songs. "Hour of Need" and Squire's "The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be" are both good, but not great. I'll also mention "Bumpy Ride," Howe's contribution to the "Fly From Here" suite. As the title clearly suggests, "Bumpy Ride" is a jaunty little piece, and as the title also suggests - - probably unwittingly - - "Bumpy Ride" seems cut-and-pasted into the suite of otherwise dignified parts, making for a bumpy transition. Nonetheless, my ambivalence faded after repeated listens.

A few listeners have shared their view that perhaps Fly From Here isn't really a Yes album, as it was done without Anderson, and because so much of the material was written outside of the context of Yes. But even if the album had been released under a different band name, it would be a masterpiece of Yes music. I recommend it without reservation to any fan of progressive rock.