RELAYER

Once there was a time in which "Relayer" was the most controversial album in all Yes cannon. Good old days! Ever since came "90125" (pop, but still a good album), "Big Generator" (poppier and almost ulistenable), "Union" (Rick Wakeman went straight to the point: this one should be called "Onion" - makes me cry, too), "Open Your Eyes" (this is by far the worst album they made). And everybody forgot all the buzz about "Relayer". Let's be honest: "To be Over" is as beautiful as "You and I", "Sound Chaser" has some great moments (although a bit boring in others) and "The Gates of Delirium" is a fantastic, marvellous epic and the closest thing to an unforgettable lyric Yes have ever made (I don't like Yes's lyrics - almost all their lyrics are confusing, pretentious or senseless). Patrick Moraz does a fine job, but his style is much different of Wakeman's, and all other musicians are on top form. So, what's wrong with "Relayer"? To many prog fans, replace Rick Wakeman in a band looks like Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding reforming "Experience" with another guitar player; in a word, SACRILEGE!!! Instead, if you are open minded, you will listen to "Relayer" with pleasure, although it's not as good as Yes's masterpieces (like "The Yes Album", "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge").