Yes - Mirror To The Sky [2CD] (2023)

Year: May 19, 2023 (CD May 19, 2023)
Label: Inside Out Music (Europe), 19658777552
Style: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 47:08, 16:30
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 329, 125 Mb

Mirror to the Sky is the their first studio album with American drummer Jay Schellen as a full-time member following the death of long-time Yes drummer Alan White in 2022 (and the first without White since 1972's Close to the Edge), to whom the album is dedicated; Schellen had frequently filled in as drummer for White since 2016, and had performed percussion as a guest on the band's previous album, 2021's The Quest.
Yes started work on the album shortly before the release of The Quest in October 2021. Like for its predecessor, guitarist Steve Howe resumed his role as producer, and the FAMES Orchestra in North Macedonia provided orchestral arrangements by Paul K. Joyce on some songs. It received positive reviews from critics, some of whom considered the album superior to its recent predecessors. 
On 10 March, Yes officially announced Mirror to the Sky on social media and their official website YesWorld, revealing the cover art, release date, and track listing. They announced that the album will be dedicated to White. On the same day, the opening track, "Cut from the Stars", was released as a digital single. The second track, "All Connected", was released as a single on 26 April.
The artwork was produced by the band's longtime cover artist Roger Dean. His design was inspired by a story that video game designer Henk Rogers had told him, which involved Rogers paddling to the middle of a lake at night during a camping trip. When the ripples of the water had settled, Dean said that "the lake became a perfect mirror to a very brilliant night sky", an experience that Rogers said was like being in space. The idea caught Dean's imagination and wanted to portray such a concept into one of his designs. He added: "I started with a horizon low down with a lot of sky but then I realised, no, I'll show with ocean in the main area with a sky just a sliver, enough to show it is mirrored. Then I decided to put in a rock formation–a viewing point for the sky." An early design of the band's logo for the cover featured a colour scheme and texture based on the Nebra sky disc, an artefact from the Early Bronze Age discovered in Germany in 1999 that Howe had suggested to Dean. It was not used as the colours did not complement the rest of the design.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_to_the_Sky)

01. Cut From the Stars (05:26)
02. All Connected (09:03)
03. Luminosity (09:01)
04. Living Out Their Dream (04:46)
05. Mirror to the Sky (13:54)
06. Circles of Time (04:55)

01. Unknown Place (08:15)
02. One Second Is Enough (04:04)
03. Magic Potion (04:10)

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Focus - Hamburger Concerto [Japanese Ed. K2HD] (1974)

Year: May 1974 (CD Dec 16, 2006)
Label: Victor Records (Japan), VICP-63667
Style: Progressive Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Time: 43:08
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 298 Mb

Hamburger Concerto is the fourth studio album by the Dutch progressive rock band Focus, released in May 1974. It peaked at No. 20 on the UK charts. The title track is based on Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms. The composition also incorporates the first two verses of the Dutch Christmas carol O Kerstnacht, schoner dan de dagen at around 15 minutes, and the Third Quarter chime from the Westminster Quarters is quoted in the track's final seconds. The first track is based on a Gaillarde of Joachim van den Hove of his work Delitae Musicae.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger_Concerto)
Here is, in my opinion, the strongest album by this dutch progressive rock band. This is quite some complicated music here, however, it's pretty goofy at times too. It consists of mostly lengthy tracks void of any singing (except for the yodeling at times) and they makes use of a lot of instruments not typically found in rock music. There is a lute and a flute on the opening track which gives off a very medieval sound.
The music is quite varied offering a wide range of styles and moods. Every member contributes greatly to the final sound offering a blend of organ, piano, mellotron, flute, accordion and of course electric guitar, bass, and drums. "Birth" even makes use of a harpsichord (and it's a great song too). Of course the bulk of the album is consumed by the epic instrumental title track. The band pulls out every trick in the book on this album, which makes for a very interesting listen.
(progarchives.com/album.asp?id=3448) Review by Fight Club. October 6, 2007. 5/5

K2HD: It is possible to expand digital data from low-grade formats (32kHz) up to high-grade formats with a maximum of 192kHz/24 bits with K2HD processing. For example, when a CD master is produced from an analog master tape, everything above 20kHz is cut during CD formatting. K2HD processing reproduces the lost high-frequency components almost the same as the analog master.

01. Delitiae Musicae (01:13)
02. Harem Scarem (05:52)
03. La Cathedrale De Strasbourg (05:00)
04. Birth (07:46)
05. Hamburger Concerto: a. Starter / b. Rare / c. Medium I / d. Medium II / e. We... (20:20)

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Yes - Heaven & Earth [Japanese Ed. SHM-CD] (2014)

Year: July 16, 2014 (CD Jul 16, 2014)
Label: Avalon (Japan), MICP-30060
Style: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 56:03
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 400 Mb

Heaven & Earth is the twenty-first studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 16 July 2014 on Frontiers Records and is the first album with lead vocalist Jon Davison and the final album to feature founding bassist Chris Squire before his death in 2015. The group started preparing new material for an album during the 2013 leg of their Album Series Tour. Davison took an active approach with the songwriting, travelling to the homes of the other band members to collaborate on songs. Yes enlisted producer Roy Thomas Baker (who had previously worked with the band during recording sessions in 1979) and future Yes bassist Billy Sherwood to complete the mixing. This is the last production credit that Baker received before his death in 2025.
Heaven & Earth received mixed reviews. It reached No. 20 on the UK Albums Chart and became their highest charting album on the chart since their 1994 album Talk. It reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_%26_Earth_(Yes_album))

01. Believe Again (08:02)
02. The Game (06:51)
03. Step Beyond (05:34)
04. To Ascend (04:43)
05. In A World Of Our Own (05:20)
06. Light Of The Ages (07:41)
07. It Was All We Knew (04:13)
08. Subway Walls (09:03)
09. To Ascend (bonus track) (04:33)

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Yes - Fly From Here [Japanese Ed.] (2011)

Year: June 22, 2011 (CD Jun 22, 2011)
Label: Avalon Records (Japan), MIZP-30001
Style: Progressive Rock, Art Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 54:19
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 407 Mb

As good I would have expected, "Fly From Here" sounds very much Drama era Yes, with more than a nod in the direction of their symphonic predecesors, though slightly lacks the impact of Drama and the adventurism of their early albums.
I understand the main theme songs were written during the Drama sessions but never used, they are strong Yes tracks and pleased to see them brought out "into the light" (he he!) here, all the songs are good and up to standard, Fair do's the production on this album sounds magnificent as a good Yes album should on my vinyl copy, no excuse for poor sound in this modern age of state of the art studio technology, though i've heard a few duffers over the last few years.
New singer Benoit David seems born to fill Jon Anderson's shoes, though playing safe he is a good soundalike, he slightly lacks the impact, light and shade of his predecessors but is pleasant enough to listen to, maybe he'll settle in better after a tour and be more confident on the next album.
The other legendary performers sound in fine form, their signature solos, licks and phrases are all there to enjoy again and sound refreshed from their long abscence from each other. Yes has had many trials and tribulations over the years but doubt if we'll see Rick Wakeman back with the band, though i did hear one of his sons Oliver was up for the job and worked with the band on the new album but was dismissed...? ....shame.
Great artwork and flight theme all go together to make a great comeback album for Yes, though the old purist cynics could have a field day criticising it, the guys have stood up well here to keep up their reputations on all counts, personally i am just chuffed to have a new pretty well up to standard Yes album in my hands, the Spirit of Prog is still alive and kickin', show 'em guys!!
Though Fly From Here is by no means a masterpiece, it will remain a worthy addition to Yes fans and Prog fans alike, and the album will remain on my turntable for some time to come i know.
(progarchives.com/album.asp?id=33381) Review by mystic fred. July 15, 2011

01. Fly From Here - Overture (01:53)
02. Fly From Here Pt I - We Can Fly (06:00)
03. Fly From Here Pt II - Sad Night At The Airfield (06:41)
04. Fly From Here Pt III - Madman At The Screens (05:16)
05. Fly From Here Pt IV - Bumpy Ride (02:15)
06. Fly From Here Pt V - We Can Fly Reprise (01:44)
07. The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be (05:07)
08. Life On A Film Set (05:01)
09. Hour Of Need (03:07)
10. Solitaire (03:30)
11. Into The Storm (06:54)
12. Hour Of Need - (Full Length Version) (06:45)

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Yes - The Ladder (1999)

Year: September 20, 1999 (CD Oct 20, 1999)
Label: Beyond Records (US), 63985-78046-2
Style: Art Rock, Symphonic Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 60:22
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 443 Mb

Oh... Yes,Yes,Yes again and again!!! Long live for this band! The name of the next album is Magnification,but the magnification begin from here,again and again!It is very pleasant for someone simple person like me when see that five big persons (or six) repair their mistake! And Yes made it perfectly! After the absolute failure Talk and the problems with the sound tuning and some other circumstances in Open Your Eyes Yes are here again! The Ladder is the first album with crystal and synchronic sound and mystical perfection in songwriting since Drama and the first in typical classic Yes sound since Going for the One.I exclude Union,because it is different and its beauty shine in other way!I think that a returning to the top is harder than reaching it for first time. And that's the importance of The Ladder and the greatness of Yes. There are many band,but there aren't others like Yes. The Ladder contains one of the most famous and one of the best Yes' songs - Homeworld (The Ladder). All of the other songs are very good,without anything weak. The Ladder is album that makes you happy,satisfied and pleased from life.It turns you free and positive. Appropriate for everyday use and for all moods.A must recording for every little progressive rock fan!
(progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1848) Review by poslednijat_colobar. October 6, 2008. ****
The appeal of THE LADDER wore off rather easily, much faster than I had anticipated. It's as if I bought THE LADDER and subsequently walked right under another one. We have two nine minute things here, and they may lead one to believe that Yes may have returned to their old style back in the early 70's. The sound produced here is far from classic Yes with the two longer songs being teases to prog fans, much like the epic on TALK.
I'll admit that ''Homeworld'' is the best epic here, one that could faintly harken back to Yes of old even with that over-produced 90's Yes sound. ''New Languages'' isn't horrible, but plagued with cringeworthy AOR choruses and ideas that sound ''borrowed'' from THE YES ALBUM. Pop music pretty much dominates the rest of the material; the reggae-esque ''The Messenger'' is the best here although also noticeable is the short ''Can I?'' with its world music thingys. Parts of ''Lightning Strikes'' sound laughable, and the whole song sounds like a kids tune in 7/8 time (which would scare the kids more than anything). Everything else need not be mentioned.
If the poppier Yes doesn't offend you, then this album should not be difficult to digest as it gets a little proggy in spots. Those looking for a more classic Yes should skip ahead to MAGNIFICATION or get a classic Yes album; THE LADDER is not classic Yes.
(progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1848) Review by Sinusoid. January 16, 2009. **

01. Homeworld (The Ladder) (09:34)
02. It Will Be A Good Day (The River) (04:53)
03. Lightning Strikes (04:35)
04. Can I? (01:32)
05. Face to Face (05:03)
06. If Only You Knew (05:43)
07. To Be Alive (Hep Yadda) (05:07)
08. Finally (06:01)
09. The Messenger (05:13)
10. New Language (09:19)
11. Nine Voices (Longwalker) (03:20)

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Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In The Hot Seat (1994)

Year: 26 September 1994 (CD 1994)
Label: Victory Records (UK), 828 554-2
Style: Progressive rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 71:33
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 433 Mb

The making of the album was complicated by health issues encountered by both keyboard player Keith Emerson and drummer Carl Palmer. Emerson had trouble with the ulnar nerve, which made it difficult for him to control his right hand. As the prognosis for recovery after the surgical treatment was not promising, he had to overdub the right-hand parts with his left hand. Palmer suffered problems with carpal tunnel syndrome, which led to numbness in his fingers. He underwent surgery to correct the issue.
"Daddy" was written by Lake in memory of missing child Sara Anne Wood and was used to raise awareness of missing and abducted children. The royalties from the song initially brought in $5,000 and were donated to the Sara Anne Wood Rescue Center, a national non-profit foundation established by Wood's father.
"Street War" originated in summer 1988 sessions by Lake with Geoff Downes under the project name Ride the Tiger, but was reworked for this album by adding and rewriting lyrics and composing new music. Ride the Tiger was finally released in 2015.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Hot_Seat)

01. Hand Of Truth (05:22)
02. Daddy (04:42)
03. One By One (05:07)
04. Heart On Ice (04:19)
05. Thin Line (04:45)
06. Man In The Long Black Coat (04:12)
07. Change (04:43)
08. Give Me A Reason To Stay (04:14)
09. Gone Too Soon (04:11)
10. Street War (04:24)
11. Pictures At An Exhibition a. Promenade (01:45)
12. Pictures At An Exhibition b. The Gnome (02:07)
13. Pictures At An Exhibition c. Promenade (01:45)
14. Pictures At An Exhibition d. The Sage (03:10)
15. Pictures At An Exhibition e. The Hut Of Baba Yaga (01:16)
16. Pictures At An Exhibition f. The Great Gates Of Kiev (05:24)

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Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Black Moon (1992)

Year: 18 May 1992 (CD June 27, 1992)
Label: Victory Music (US), 383 480 003-2
Style: Symphonic Rock, Art Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 48:55
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 302 Mb

Charts: CAV #66, GER #45, NED #77, SWI #23, JP #16, US #78.
The band had broken up in 1979, and recorded Black Moon to kick off their 1990s revival. Black Moon received mixed reviews. Jim Allen of AllMusic wrote in a retrospective review that the performers "stripped down their sound and amped up their attack." In his book The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock, Paul Stump compared it favorably to its contemporary Union (by fellow progressive rock giants Yes). He explained that Black Moon "did at least aspire to interest and excite the listener, and it would be a churlish mind that overlooked a vigour in the playing which had formerly been notable by its absence. The material, though, suffered from the Yes malaise: cynicism and over-exposure to the wallet-fattening blandishments of easy-out FM mores, intervals and development procedures had blunted edges and dulled nerve-endings both of players and listeners."
Half of the album's songs were played at the band's 1992-1993 concerts. Greg Lake included the songs "Paper Blood", "Farewell to Arms" and "Footprints in the Snow" in the setlist of his 2005 solo tour. "Farewell to Arms" was played at the group's final concert, at the High Voltage Festival in July 2010.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Moon_(album))

01. Black Moon (06:59)
02. Paper Blood (04:28)
03. Affairs Of The Heart (03:47)
04. Romeo And Juliet (03:42)
05. Farewell To Arms (05:10)
06. Changing States (06:02)
07. Burning Bridges (04:45)
08. Close To Home (04:29)
09. Better Days (05:36)
10. Footprints In The Snow (03:52)

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Yes - Open Your Eyes [Japanese Ed.] (1997)

Year: November 24, 1997 (CD December 17, 1997)
Label: Victor Records (Japan), VICP-60215
Style: Art Rock, Symphonic Rock, Progressive Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 78:19
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 540 Mb

Following the 1996 revival of the 1970s "classic" line-up of Yes, the band's relationship with management had broken down and keyboardist Rick Wakeman had once again left the band. While various other members dispersed, guitarist, keyboardist, and producer Billy Sherwood (a long-time Yes associate and contributor) began developing new songs with band bassist and de facto leader Chris Squire to prevent the band from losing momentum and fully splitting. Yes' new management company suggested adding a couple of songs originally written for Squire and Sherwood's other band Conspiracy to help build up material for a new Yes studio album. With the writing and production sessions dominated by Squire and Sherwood, and with singer Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White only involved later in the process, the writing and creative input of the latter three members was limited.
Open Your Eyes received mixed reviews from music critics and became one of the band's lowest selling albums, reaching number 151 on the US Billboard 200 and failing to enter the UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Open Your Eyes", reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart which was followed by a second, "New State of Mind". A limited edition with a surround sound mix was also released. Yes supported the album with a 12-month world tour from October 1997 that coincided with their thirtieth anniversary. The band were joined by Russian keyboardist Igor Khoroshev, who had played on the album as a guest musician and who became a full-time member at the tour's conclusion.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Your_Eyes_(Yes_album))

01. New State Of Mind (06:00)
02. Open Your Eyes (05:13)
03. Universal Garden (06:16)
04. No Way We Can Lose (04:56)
05. Fortune Seller (05:01)
06. Man In The Moon (04:40)
07. Wonderlove (06:07)
08. From The Balcony (02:42)
09. Love Shine (04:38)
10. Somehow.....Someday (04:46)
11. Open Your Eyes (Radio Edit) (Bonus) (04:10)
12. The Solution (23:46)

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Yes - Union [Japanese Ed.] (1991)

Year: April 30, 1991 (CD Jul 21, 1991)
Label: Arista Records (Japan), BVCA-116
Style: Symphonic Rock
Country: London, England
Time: 69:55
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 512 Mb

Charts: CAN #15, US #15, JPN #11, GER #15, NLD #17, SWE #32, SWI #16, UK #7. US: Gold.
While Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire and Alan White was working on a follow-up to Big Generator, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe was working on a follow-up to their latest album (that was released under the name ‘Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe’, since the Squire/White/Rabin camp owned the rights to the name ‘Yes’ at the time).
The idea that came about was that of a Union between these two versions of Yes. And what a great idea it was! It features eight people! The material is a mix between the two camps and this seems to have spurred them all to write better songs. Great rock songs like Shock To The System, Lift Me Up and Miracle Of Life, great pop melodies like I Would Have Waited Forever and Saving My Heart, instrumentals like the beautiful Steve Howe solo piece Masquerade.
The most surprising for me are the Trevor Rabin songs. I did not like those Yes albums that Rabin worked on before very much, but here even Rabin’s songs are great. Especially Lift Me Up, which rocks harder than anything from 90125 or Big Generator. Rabin also does a lot of vocals which gives the album more strengh and diversity than usual.
The tracks Angkor Wat, Dangerous (Look In The Light Of What You’re Searching For), Holding On, Evensong and Take The Water To The Mountain are perhaps not too interesting in their own right. But since the running time is so long it is ok. The closing track Give & Take, on the other hand, is again a great song, tying the album together in a nice way.
It is really strange that so many tend to dislike this album so much. I agree that it has some weak moments and it probably could have been better if they recorded it more as a unit instead of sending tapes to each other around the globe. However, Union is a very good and very underrated album (much, much better than 90125 and Big Generator and almost as good as the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album) and a must for all serious Yes fans!
(classicrockreview.wordpress.com/2021/08/25/yes-union-1991-2/) Review by SouthSideoftheSky.

01. I Would Have Waited Forever (06:33)
02. Shock To The System (05:09)
03. Masquerade (02:17)
04. Lift Me Up (06:30)
05. Without Hope You Cannot Start The Day (05:18)
06. Saving My Heart (04:41)
07. Miracle Of Life (07:30)
08. Silent Talking (04:01)
09. The More We Live - Let Go (04:53)
10. Angkor Wat (05:23)
11. Dangerous (Look In The Light Of What You're Searching For) (03:38)
12. Holding On (05:24)
13. Evensong (00:51)
14. Take The Water To The Mountain (03:12)
15. Give And Take (04:28)

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