MIRROR TO THE SKY

Legendary British band Yes is back in 2023 with their 23rd studio album 'Mirror to the Sky'. Obviously with no original members left in the band, many like to argue to what extent this band could really can itself Yes, but such debates are too often, if not always, counterproductive, pointless, and utterly crass. The fact is that Mr Steve Howe, legendary guitar player is willing to keep the band alive and going strong, as this is their second release into the 2020s, some two years after 'The Quest', a record that was received positively enough.

What matters here is that this is finally a Yes album that could deserve enough attention to be considered a return to form. The band had boldly proclaimed themselves masters of the album craft, and I could by no means oppose such a statement, as 'Mirror to the Sky' is a well-written, finely composed and recorded album, working pretty well as one, too. Band members Billy Sherwood, Geoff Downes, Jay Schellen, and Jon Davison, who has co-written most of the record all contribute and play gracefully, adding a pretty fine album to the majestic Yes universe. This one is by no means able to foreshadow the band's all-time classics from the 70s and the 80s, but is a great exercise in trying to recapture that joyful and affirming spark of creativity that has always been associated with the name of Yes.

Opener 'Cut from the Stars' is an upbeat Davison composition that does a pretty good job of introducing this new album with some fine melodies and playing. 'All Connected' is for sure a nod to the years when Jon Anderson was the creative force behind many of the compositions of the band, not a bad track either. 'Luminosity' is fine, just a tiny bit overstretched in time. 'Living Out Their Dream' is a pretty nice highlight, sounds like something that has slipped away from the 'Going for the One' sessions. The 14-minute title track is perhaps the best event on the album, as Yes perform a longer track that works quite well as one, the playing is fantastic, the ideas on here sound fresh and modern, and every minute of this great epic is thoroughly enjoyable. Closing track 'Circles of Time' is one I found particularly corny, could have been left out as a bonus track, depending on who you ask. Speaking of bonus tracks, the second disk (featuring just three more songs) does not contribute all too much to the overall experience of the album, the songs there are in the same vein as the ones on the main disk, just more forgettable and repetitive.

Overall a very positive reception for this new Yes album, the band is trying to stay relevant and creatively focused, which is a great thing. The legacy of Yes surely lives on, and 'Mirror to the Sky' is a good album that aims to point out exactly this!