RELAYER

Yes' album covers seem to always represent their music. The gray, warning cover of this album fairly sums it up, just as the fragile earth sums up the delicate balance that is "Fragile" and the peaceful landscape on the inside cover of "Close to the Edge" sums up that album. What you can expect here is darker, harder-edged Yes. And it's a masterpiece.

The main song is "Gates of Delirium", moving like a calvary riding to war. The lyrics begin with a call to battle -- then the battle is fought. At this point, the music goes out of control, into a huge instrumental solo with battling keyboards and guitars held together by the bass. The band uses some strange percussion, banging pots and pans for effect. It climaxes in a drum solo, slowly descending into an ambient post-war soliloquy. "Soon..." Now THIS is well-constructed music.

"Sound Chaser" is a jazz-fusion extravaganza. There are many guitar solos, and sound effects, firing off and becoming very congested, but still wonderful. Patrick Moraz SHINES.

"To Be Over" is a forgotten gem. I love it. A soft ballad, but very intricate. "We go sailing down the calming streams..."

This album is much more hard rock/jazz-fusion than Yes' other work, and it is excellent. Patrick Moraz is probably my favorite Yes keyboardist, along with Tony Kaye. The sounds of his Orchestron must be heard to be believed.