TORMATO

Tormato is the ninth studio album released by Yes that follows up their previous album, Going for the One. It was released in September of 1978 and is their last album for quite some time that would have both singer Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman together before their departure from the band in 1980. The rest of the musicians present include Steve Howe on guitar, Chris Squire on bass, Alan White on drums, and Andrew Pryce Jackman who is credited with orchestrations and arrangements on two of the songs on the album. Tormato seems to generally get mixed reviews by the progressive rock community, which corresponds to how I feel about the album when listening to it. My opinion on it seems to differ every few months. At one moment, I feel as if this album is underrated, and at the next moment I feel like it is overrated (if it even can be). There are some truly great moments found on this album, but they are surrounded by a sort of mediocracy that persists through the entire listening experience. I feel as if any of these tracks were put on Going for the One, they would have fit almost perfectly. However, the biggest difference between Tormato and Going for the One is that this album doesn't have an Awaken to back it up. Still, I do believe that there is more here than reviewers give it credit for.

The first song on the album, Future Times / Rejoice, is my favorite on Tormato. Now, that doesn't mean it is equal to the greatness of Heart of the Sunrise or Starship Trooper, but within Tormato it is my personal highlight. Interestingly enough, it features Chris Squire playing bass with a Mu-Tron pedal effect which adds a very interesting element to the track. In fact, both Steve Howe and Alan White also do a great job within their respective roles here. Overall, it is a wonderful track that I continue to find myself returning to. Next, we are greeted to Don't Kill The Whale which is the single of the album. Despite preconceptions, the song is actually quite nice. It contains the best keyboard work from Rick Wakeman throughout the entire album in addition to Rick Wakeman displaying restraint on keyboard sounds. Rick Wakeman once said that the keyboard solo involved him adapting a sound that he had configured on his Polymoog which produced "weird sounds" that resembled a whale, interesting. The next song on the album is Madrigial and it is simple yet not disappointing by any means. I got exactly what I expected when hearing it was a form of English evening song that features Rick Wakeman on harpsichord. Jon Anderson does some beautiful vocals here as well, however, Jon Anderson does beautiful vocals throughout the entire album. In actuality, he is the largest saving grace on Tormato. He really gives it his all on every track! The last song on Side A on the vinyl is Release, Release. This song has a great energy to it that I am quite fond of. The instrumental section includes a crowd cheering with the guitar and drum solo, which Wakeman reasoned was added because it "sounded a bit dry" on its own. He recalled the crowd was taken from an English football match. In addition, Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegun visited Yes in the studio and heard Release, Release, which he liked and suggested the whole album sound like it. However, the song was slightly difficult for Anderson to sing on stage as the many high notes in the song strained his voice, and it was dropped early into the tour. Overall, a very enjoyable track!

Side B of the album begins with Arriving UFO which is based on a tune that Jon Anderson had developed while watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind twice. This is a very unique track from the band that is surprising captivating. There is also a terrific build-up near the end that displays the array of keyboard sounds available to Rick Wakeman. However, Rick Wakemen's keyboard choices haven't aged all that well on this track and come across as somewhat annoying at points. Despite this track containing a lot of intriguing moments, I feel as if it was released underdeveloped and deprived of its full potential. Circus of Heaven is up next, and it tells the story of a travelling fantasy circus and its visit to a Midwestern town, featuring unicorns, centaurs, elves, and fairies. Its direction came from Anderson's pursuit to write songs aimed at children and gained inspiration from a book by Ray Bradbury. Rick Wakeman provides an array of keyboard sounds that revolve in effectiveness. Not to mention, the ending keyboards are completely unnecessary and doesn't fit the mood of the song at all. Onward on the other hand, is a superb ballad gives a sole credit to Chris Squire! It features orchestral arrangements by Andrew Pryce Jackman, who had worked with Squire as a member of The Syn and on Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water. Squire later considered "Onward" as one of the best songs he ever wrote. It is a truly moving song that is one of the best ballads Yes ever wrote. Lastly, we have On the Silent Wings of Freedom which includes Chris Squire playing with a Mu-Tron Envelope Shaper effect. At the start of the track, it seems somewhat aimless but soon develops into an intriguing mini-epic. Chris Squire's bass playing is notably brilliant as he takes a lead role multiple times throughout the track. However, similar to Arriving UFO, this feels somewhat underdeveloped and unable to obtain its full potential.

Overall, Tormato still remains to be any enjoyable listen with numerous highlights throughout. This album isn't bad by any means and is still better then anything I could ever write. However, when compared to what came before it this album doesn't really hold up as well. This is a good album containing generally good performances by some of the best musicians of all time. Tormato is a great album, but only a good Yes album. "I could not take it oh so seriously really when you called and said you'd seen a UFO."

Share this YES review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Prog Zone
• Report this review (#2537264)
• Buy YES music online with PA partners
• Show all YES MP3/Stream
• Go to YES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Tormato page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for YES related discussions