KEYS TO ASCENSION

It's clear in my mind the first time I saw the CD of this album sometime ago in 1997, I was really amazed with the fact that one of my favorites during 70s was "Yessongs" live album where I really appreciated highly (musically) and nowadays I see a modern "Yessongs" that reincarnates itself into "Keys to Ascension". Again some classic tracks were performed by one of prog heroes. Even, some tracks are exactly the same: "Siberian Khatru", "Roundabout", "Starship Trooper". I purchased directly this CD from our local disc store, Aquarius Pondok Indah, Jakarta. I was so sure that it's gonna be a fantastic live performance.

Yeah, it was a kind of worth investment having this CD in my collection. Eventhough song-wise there were some similarities but they are performed differently, especially with the use of modern sound technology. AS usual in YES live performance, the emotional and musically uplifting track "Siberian Khatru" opens the album on CD1. I can see the huge difference, sound-wise as well as style, from previous live recordings of this track. The bass line is really dazzling, guitar fills are killing, powerful vocal line with no deteriorating quality (my salute to JON!), punchy keyboard work and dynamic drumming. It then continues with a classic "The Revealing Science of God" taken from the first track of "tales from Topographic Ocean" album. I had never heard this track performed live by the band and I didn't believe that the band performed it excellently. Especially knowing that the "Tales" album was considered by most reviews more of JON and HOWE project; and WAKEMAN was not really tuned with this album. Congrats Rick! You performed really well in this album. Marvelous!

"America" (by Paul Simon) is performed with more improvisation on guitar part (especially) and is longer than the studio version. The guitar work of HOWE in this track is really killing! It's a very energetic track that suitable to wake you up in the morning. The fourth track "Onward" (taken from "Tormato" album) is also performed differently - especially on the intro part where HOWE plays more role in filling in the acoustic guitar work, backed up by RICK's keyboard. It's a very enjoyable, mellow and accessible track. It sounds poppy but it's not really pop.

"Awaken"!!!!! What a dream! This track is the best track that I like from the "Going for the One" album that commemorates the first return of WAKEMAN to the band. It's definitely a heart-breaking track. The track start in a slow tempo with nice vocal line by JON "High vibration go on ." and move to moderate tempo. The heart of this track is really when it comes to keyboard solo at the interlude. What a fascinating art creation here! It has a powerful sound, memorable and tasty melodies. By composition, this track is really wonderful. Performed live is even better than the original studio version.

CD 2 starts with acoustic guitar work as an intro part of "Roundabout". Personally, this was the first track that introduced me to the band sometime in the 70s. Performed live in this album is even having more energy and much more powerful. It continues with "Starship Trooper", a track that is very common in any YES live performance as "Siberian Khatru".

There are two new studio tracks in CD 2: "Be The One" and "That, That Is" that are worth commenting. "Be The One" I consider as a new track that was composed in an original style of YES in the 70s. The only difference was probably on the production of sound quality. It starts with a very stimulating drum work by ALAN WHITE followed by other instrument, dominated by HOWE's electric guitar fills. WAKEMAN's keyboard works accentuate the bars where JON's voice start to make its entrance. This track has a powerful melody. "Never underestimate the loving .." It moves to more tasty melody when JON sings "I'll be there, to bring this love in the morning" ..and it reaches the ultimate satisfaction on this part "Be the one, giving in to love .". Oh my God! What an emotionally uplifting track. It then flows to even high tone when it reaches HUMANKIND "So we worked all around amidst the glory of life ." with a killing HOWE's guitar fills! No compromise, this track deserves a very high appreciation in strong songwriting and composition. Four thumbs up!

The concluding track "That, That Is" I consider as an epic (19:14) in the vein of "Tales from Topographic Ocean" album. It starts with a stunning acoustic guitar work accompanied by WAKEMAN's keyboard in relatively long duration. It moves then with the inclusion of soft percussion and some bass line while maintaining the same tagline melody. When vocal line enters the music in a fading-in style (it reminds me to JON's solo album "Deseo") the drumming starts dynamically followed by dazzling bass line by SQUIRE. The music slowly lifting up into a faster tempo. The song goes on with many changing tempos and melodies.It's a fascinating track on par with any track of "Tales" album.

My ultimate goal with this write-up is aimed at giving my deep appreciation to the band as this album I consider as phenomenal as classic Yes album live albums like "Yessongs" and "Yesshows". The difference is that it contains new studio tracks that are at the same quality with any other classic tracks. As for a recommending you to purchase this album, I think is not a major issue we have at our hands, as this album is MUST HAVE in your collection. It's a pity if you don't have it. It's a MASTERPIECE. Call me a naïve person and I don't mind as this is truly a MASTERPIECE! (Note: in the middle of writing up this review, I received a short message on my mobile phone from my prog friend in Jakarta, Teguh, who reminds me about the dream came true for Indonesian Yesmania - including Teguh and me - of being able to watch YES second leg tour in Singapore - 25 Sep 2003). Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.