RUN THROUGH THE LIGHT

[ YES have been my biggest prog favourites since my teenage, but I haven't written many reviews for their releases simply because especially their albums are among the most reviewed here. I added a single that wasn't here yet, and thus I have the rare pleasure of giving the first review for a Yes release. ]

I bought the controversial album Drama (1980) in early 1987, at the age of 17, being already familiar with most of the Yes albums up to 90125. Maybe I knew in advance that Jon Anderson wasn't the singer on Drama -- or that keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman was absent as well --, maybe I didn't, can't remember. There weren't many sources of information back then. But I did enjoy the album's unique sound pretty immediately. Not even the high-pitched vocals of Trevor Horn were an issue for me: interestingly he sounded a bit like Jon but not exactly.

My favourite song on was 'Run Through the Light', or at least it was the first one I became fond of. I still remember one of my first listenings of Drama, by a candle light, charmed by the fantastic Roger Dean gatefold cover art (still it's among my favourites) as well as the music. The thing that especially felt exciting and new in the sound were Geoff Downes's synth decorations in this very song, and its rhythmic structure was interesting too.

The B side has the brief Drama track 'White Car', which I also liked a lot. A sharp, orchestral-sounding intro is followed by a short, slow-tempo vocal part with visually intriguing lyrics that seem to have a deep metaphysical level as well. As a side note, early versions of both of these songs are among the most interesting bonus tracks of the Drama CD reissue as they differ quite dramatically from the album versions.

Without a cover sleeve or non-abum tracks I won't give this single full rating, but in theory its musical content would deserve it!