RELAYER

I've been a true Yes fan ever since Fragile came out, and even though I think that each and every album the band ever recorded since that period were absolutely great, Relayer remains my favorite. After the two years of touring that followed the album, the band took some time off, not only to record solo albums but also because they thought they had to slow down the big tours with tons of equipment and loosen up their music, and they never recorded anything like it since then. Patrick Moraz, the new keyboard man of the band is in top form and inspiration here, and I've read somewhere that he played his most beautiful performance on Relayer and, yes, I agree with that. Gates of Delirium! What a masterpiece, it was the quintet's most experimental era and you can hear it in the middle instrumental part, wow ! And the duo with Steve Howe and Patrick Moraz just before the Soon part comes, took me sometimes to make the difference between the pedal-steel and the synths... And what about the opening of Sound Chaser, Alan White at his best, and the keyboard solos and amongst the best I've heard for quite some time. And, naturally, comes the beauty and calm notes of the Dan Electro Sitar Guitar of Steve and the smooth sound of Orchestron for the beginning of what I consider one of Yes's most greatest love song ever, To be over. So, yes, I think Relayer remains to this very day, the band's best album of their carreer...