RELAYER

this album marks the last stage (last gasp?) of Yes' exploration of the 20 minute song structure and confirms the departure (forever, sadly) of the band's ability to create the kinds of works of depth, genius, and heart that marked their successes from 'the Yes album' through 'Yessongs'. Even so, the piece Relayer itself has within it enough glimpses (almost full appearances) of that genius to fulfill the Yes fan's desperate need to experience more of their beloved greatness. There are without question themes and guitar inventions that are memorable, and would be signals of a new greatness, were they to come from a new band. I have great respect for the piece 'Relayer' but only for the music - the lyrics unfortunately attain a new low in banality - the warrior lamenting and later rejecting his violent mission with the tritest of lyrics - sure lets all live in flowers. There are only three songs, and the second could be used in Guantanamo Bay to coerce confessions. So lets move on to 'To Be Over', which has a beautiful melody (it was actually in jukeboxes as a single in the seventies). The theme is well developed, varirations come along with promise of... yet in the end one is left feeling that the ten minutes was not so well spent as it should have been. I cant say I'd go out of my way to hear it again, but even thinking of it as I am now - that sweet melody comes flowing in from my memory (sigh). But the piece Relayer - every three years or so I can confidently let 'er rip and know i'll see some Yes genius genius again - a glimpse at least.