FLY FROM HERE

This band used to have a leader or driving force. In 70s it was mostly Jon Anderson in 80s rather Trevor Rabin. There used to be a certain vision in the band, creative force, even though styles and image were changing. I have started to miss this vision and force since Keys to Ascension. This is the logical result of that lack. Fly from Here has already very little, if any artistic integrity. It sounds like anonymous band which, on places, tries to sound like Yes. Resembling a lot Glass Hammer's If, especially the voices (still, Yes creativity is much lower at this point).

Album is generally straightforward, soft and instantly listenable. It's full of simple melodies and with simple structure and progressions, becoming quickly overused. There's nothing to discover more. The band rarely tries to throw us some odd change, but it's like being done just for its own sake, without being organic.

When I hear new recruit on vocals, Benoit David, I imagine a schoolboy who is reciting his poem in front of a class with hands behind his back. He has nice clean voice, but his expression is very flat, lacking confidence (especially when he fills shoes of somebody like Jon Anderson). He has a strange accent, maybe Quebecois?

Steve Howe disappoints me once again; despite I had no big expectations about him. His simple motives he usually repeats once more in higher octave, showing me vacuum of ideas. His electric hippie-jazz guitar, in which he's constantly trapped somewhat doesn't create a good chemistry with the hall effects of Geoff Downes. But keyboard tone and sloppy guitar actually make it sound more like Asia than Yes. Don't expect any signs of fierce from Mr.Howe that you can find on Drama. There is very little comparison to Drama at all imo. But still I'm glad to hear Chris Squire at least on some lead vocals, he reminds us about the spirit of Yes, if rarely.

Album flow is rather uninteresting and very repetitive, especially during "the epic". Yes, themes should be revealed again as the conceptual work goes on, but not like here. There is no tension, no dynamics, no progress. The lowest moment is the instrumental Bumpy Ride, really ridiculous piece, a parody. Sounds like a soundtrack to some outdated computer 2D arcade game.

As a whole package, it's a sweet album for easy listening twice or three times before being bored. Production is really good, crisp and clean, but doesn't hide the extensive lack of ideas. Few melodies might stick in the head for a while, but that's all about it. I'd say fine for collectors and nostalgic fans, who want to hear their icons once more.