Air refrigerates
whatever it touches with
an icy embrace.
whatever it touches with
an icy embrace.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
I'll See Your Relayer...
In reponse to the challenge offered by my good friend, Anthony C, I decided to check out Yes’ Relayer. The library had it, so I listened to it for a couple of weeks in July/August.
Much easier than Tales from Topographic Oceans, in that there is only one disc and only three songs!
Gates of Delirium has many interesting passages, and Sound Chaser is the most fusion-esque thing I’ve ever heard by Yes. Sounds like Stomu Yamashta; I read somewhere that having Patrick Moraz in the lineup kind of loosened things up for the rest of the band.
But, whereas Tales had nothing really memorable for me, anything I could whistle, Relayer had To Be Over. There’s an approximately 2 minute vocal part that is totally memorable and whistleable. Really nice harmonies, too, along with some weird timing. And the clincher is that afterward the song goes to an expansive instrumental break, reminiscent of those in And You and I. I found it quite evocative, of what, I’m not quite sure. An experience of musical déjà vu, I suppose.
As I listened to this CD, I thought of the notion of “investigating” music. If I had listened to Relayer when it was first released, I would’ve thought it was terrible. It wouldn’t have met my preconceived standards, which at that time were very "pop". It would not have had the resonance for me then like it does now. Perhaps it’s a matter of time and life experience, but maybe it’s about attitude as well? Or too much pop music over the years ;-)
One last thought – Roger Dean’s cover reminds me of the Mines of Moria from Lord of the Rings!
Much easier than Tales from Topographic Oceans, in that there is only one disc and only three songs!
Gates of Delirium has many interesting passages, and Sound Chaser is the most fusion-esque thing I’ve ever heard by Yes. Sounds like Stomu Yamashta; I read somewhere that having Patrick Moraz in the lineup kind of loosened things up for the rest of the band.
But, whereas Tales had nothing really memorable for me, anything I could whistle, Relayer had To Be Over. There’s an approximately 2 minute vocal part that is totally memorable and whistleable. Really nice harmonies, too, along with some weird timing. And the clincher is that afterward the song goes to an expansive instrumental break, reminiscent of those in And You and I. I found it quite evocative, of what, I’m not quite sure. An experience of musical déjà vu, I suppose.
As I listened to this CD, I thought of the notion of “investigating” music. If I had listened to Relayer when it was first released, I would’ve thought it was terrible. It wouldn’t have met my preconceived standards, which at that time were very "pop". It would not have had the resonance for me then like it does now. Perhaps it’s a matter of time and life experience, but maybe it’s about attitude as well? Or too much pop music over the years ;-)
One last thought – Roger Dean’s cover reminds me of the Mines of Moria from Lord of the Rings!
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