YES FT. ARW: LIVE AT THE APOLLO

In all candour I had no great expectations of this release but what an unexpected surprise it turns out to be:- As you might expect the playing is stellar and for a guy in his seventies Jon Anderson is in absolutely terrific voice even if his between song banter has him away with the fairies, (twas ever thus!). The material is a mixture of the old standards with some 80's "90125" and even "Union" stuff thrown in. The arrangements on some of the songs have been subtly altered but still sound great.

For any fans put off by the lack lustre offerings being knocked out by the other "Yes" (who frankly look and sound like a group going through the motions) this is a must see or hear from a Band who look and better yet; sound like they are having a great time of it. Yes the dubbed over crowd noise is bloody annoying in places and the artwork looks like something K-tel might have re rejected but don't let that put you off.

Four and a half stars (half a star docked for the crowd noise and cheesy artwork).