KEYS TO ASCENSION 2

Folks, this is the long lost classic Yes album. I'm referring only to disc 2 here, which consists of 45 minutes of new studio music (disc 1 is live recordings of older Yes material). Recorded in late 1996 by Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White, Yes triumphantly returned to the peak form of the early 70s: rich and complex song structures, extreme musicianship and soaring harmonies. With its Beatles-like choruses and dizzying instrumentals, the 20- minute Mind Drive is one of Yes' best-ever epics, easily beating anything on Topographic Oceans. Footprints sounds like a distant cousin of Roundabout, seething with emotion and strong instrumention. This Train is a crazy, mood-shifting prog workout that delights. Unfortunately, befuddled management, befuddled record labels, and befuddled band members buried these great recordings under totally unnecessary live tracks and then abandoned the album like an unwanted puppy with an obscure label. Most Yes fans missed the best Yes album in 20 years - if you love early Yes, you'll dig this album.