STEVE HOWE'S REMEDY: ELEMENTS

Featuring, amongst others, his son Dylan on drums, this 2003 release from Yes guitarist Steve Howe's group Remedy adds another underwhelming slice of ersatz prog-rock to the Yes solo-album sub-genre. Howe's solo career has rarely risen above the mediocre, but at least here he tries to to mix it up, showcasing an eclectic mixture of styles that includes bluesy ballads, instrumental prog workouts, jazzy numbers and straight-ahead rock. To compare this(or anything solo by Howe) to his best work with Yes is an exercise in futility, but at least 'Elements' tries to avoid the indulgent pitfalls that marred Howe's 1975 debut 'Beginnings' or it's equally dismal follow-up 'The Steve Howe Album', with Howe working within the group dynamic that suits him best.. One for ardent fans and Yes completionists it may be, but at least he's trying something a tad different. STEFAN TURNER, LONDON, 2010