MIRROR TO THE SKY

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The group produced two versions of "Luminosity", having felt a new arrangement was needed after recording the first. The pair approached the song's lyrical themes in different ways; Davison said Sherwood took on a more "technological and physical" aspect, whereby he looked at it from a metaphysical view. I gave Mirror to the Sky the special treatment, following along with the accompanying booklet, reading every line of lyrics as it was sung. Everything we love about their music is here - long suites, shorter acoustic pieces, the usual harmonies and Jon Davison’s vocals eerily close to Jon Anderson’s while retaining his own style, slightly deeper in register than Anderson’s but just as compelling.

By the way, I can’t get enough of Sherwood singing lead: he has the ability to sound like Peter Gabriel, which Arc of Life takes advantage of on many an occasion. Davison’s vocals might dampen the impact of many songs, but it’s good to hear they’re actually writing solid songs again.All Connected' is for sure a nod to the years when Jon Anderson was the creative force behind many of the compositions of the band, not a bad track either. Well, that depends in which type of Yes fan you are: a lover of the breakthrough The Yes Album, which defined the group’s sound and positioned the group high in the progosphere, or maybe your preference is the New Wave-influenced Tormato?

Once the acoustic guitar and piano enter though, that comparison falls apart, and it soon turns into a great, driving piece. Opener 'Cut from the Stars' is an upbeat Davison composition that does a pretty good job of introducing this new album with some fine melodies and playing. But Howe is the producer, so we hear him loud and clear on this release, where I would have chosen more Sherwood.It draws me in, challenges me to hear more, and when the last song ends, all I want to do is listen to it again. And Bassist Billy Sherwood was a longtime friend of Squire’s who has collaborated with the band since the mid-90s. Just like the good old days, when there was no demand on your time—just a copy of The Yes Album or Fragile or Close to the Edge on the turntable. Davison’s voice is, as elsewhere on this album, too soft, but the instrumental parts are pretty good. When we delivered everything, and they were just getting the vinyl and everything into production for manufacturing, we were still very much in that creative zone,” explains Steve Howe.