GOING FOR THE ONE

For me, Yes is one of those very few band for who I just can't give a bad note, whatever they have done. And a lot of their albums are worth 5 stars for me, Going for the One included in that group. Sadly though, they haven't made anything this good since, this is the last really shiny gem in their catalogue.

So, Going for the One was on the other hand a step back for Yes, and also a big step forward. By saying it was a step backwards, I mean return of Rick Wakeman of course. Musicwise Yes went forward. Relayer was chaotic, angular album, great for very different reasons than GFTO. Going for the One is more subtle, elegantly beautiful, and almost trancelike (I mean Awaken of course).

The song order on the album is fantastic, Turn of the Century and Wondrous stories being in between of the more energetic songs. Those two songs are beautiful, just beautiful. Going For the One and Parallels display straightforwardness in the Yes vein, having pleasant melodies and great work by Howe and Wakeman. It must be said about Wakeman, that his keyboard playing is different than on the previous albums. It's somewhat....new agey. It is also clear that they experimented with a bit more straigh approach to the songwriting on this album. It works 100% for me, unlike on Tormato, which is good but nothing special.

They save the best to the last. Awaken is the epic of the lp, lasting well over fifteen minutes but feeling like two. You know from the piano intro that it's gonna be epic, and it truly is, a fifteen minute journey through dreams, or so it seems. Trancelike and showing new age influences, in the best sense. The eastern tinged vocal melodies intertwined with Howe's playing are just magical, with Wakeman, White and Squire just tying it all together. Stuff of the legends. They managed to do an epic equally good with Endless Dream (off the very underrated Talk album).

I have no other option than to give 5 stars to this album. Recommended for everybody!