FRAGILE

Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for minstrel medieval guitars, one of the reasons why I love early Jethro Tull so much? with that being said I'll move to my review. I do understand and acknowledge that Close to the Edge (their next studio album to this one) is at the top of most prog heads when YES comes into topic, and I do hear the grandiose everyone claims it has, however I connect more with Fragile. Roundabout opens this gem with a folky medieval-like acoustic guitar that elegantly leads the music into this sublime display of power, Squire's bass rapidly hits your brain like a train but at the same time adding just the little roughness the song needs to drag the listener into an 8 minute journey that magically blends Howe's guitars and Wakeman's various key sounds, and confirms to the audience the unique tandem that Bruford and Squire were, while Anderson itchy but precious vocals give melodies to the musical orgy happening in the back, already enough return to the investment made! A beautiful arrangement of the classical piece by German composer Johannes Brahms named Cans and Brahms delicately exposes the new asset to the band, Rick Wakeman (no offense to Mr. Tony Kaye), maybe too short for such a pristine execution. We have Heaven displays some of Anderson's blueprint lyrical craziness with a repetitive but very catchy melody that feels both out of place and also so much needed, specially for what's to come for the listener. South side of the Sky is unquestionably my favorite song from this album. Squire bass lines are all over the place with a galloping force only paired by Howe's frantic guitar playing, from riffs to licks and licks to riffs? some piano comes in to lower the testosterone levels and give a necessary break before the second half of the song kicks in, with a jazzy feeling and vocal harmonies proper of lead Anderson and backing from Squire and Howe, brilliant. Bruford smartly and patiently leads the band into the unwanted but also rewarding ending of the song.

Five per cent for nothing majestically opens side B as an introduction for Anderson's masterpiece Long Distance Runaround, coincidence or not those two pieces blend together perfectly, its a beautiful, catchy and memorable tune, and depicts a song structure that will be definitely inspired bands such as Supertramp and Styx. No rest for the dying (us), The Fish takes us again into Squire's fantasyland before Howe's sets the medieval mood one more time with the incredible instrumental passage Mood for a Day? I'm not that familiar with Howe's work outside YES, but I do know I would love an entire album sounding like this, it would surely provide me of a Mood for a Year! Finally and without previous annunciation the epic Heart of the Sunrise begins its moody journey. All-Together first, then rhythmic + Wakeman, then Howe on the distance approaching with that tone, man! That tone! All- Together again and so on the edge that it seems that everything is h=going to break with a minimal intervention.. Fragile maybe? Three masters participate in the songwriting, Anderson, Aquire and Bruford? Three beautiful and mysterious verses are subsequently interrupted by the band's signature instrumental moments, where all the members elegantly carve their names into one of the most beloved Rock and Progressive rock lineups of all times! Lyrics: "Love comes to you and then after, dream on onto the Heart of the Sunrise. Sharp distance, how can the wind with its arms all around me. Sharp distance, how can the wind with so many around me I feel lost in the city?" The END