Relayer- Rating out of 5?

[pianozach]

Well, never thought I'd see anyone but a die-hard Prog fan attempt a Reaction Video of The Gates of Delirium.

A Patreon request. LOL. "It took me sixteen bars to figure out the groove, man."

Judging by the albums used as wall art, this track is way outside anything they'd have ever discovered on their own. They admit that it all fits together, but they cannot fathom polyrhythms or counterpoint.

[Somis Sound]

Well said! I've been wondering about this for years. Is it because Rick happened to be in a place in time where keyboard technology was changing rapidly and he didn't consider how his sound changed significantly while the rest of Yes kept in their groove? Fragile/CTTE/TFTO all have the same basic keyboard vibe possibly because they were recorded in a relatively short amount of time with a good amount of touring in between recording sessions. I have no doubt that the new keyboards popping out in the late 70s were much easier to deal with for the most part, especially touring, but like you said GFTO and especially Tormato started sounding cheesy.

Back to Relayer - 5 and Patrick's contribution is a huge part of it. I really enjoyed the piano solo tour show I was able to get to and I really wish there were more opportunities to see him live especially with Yes.

I agree. I absolutely love to watch and hear him play, but regarding his sounds, you nailed it. I loved his sounds from Fragile to TFTO. Epic!. After that, it went down hill in the sounds dept. GFTO, Tormato, ABWH, ARW, a lot of cheese surrounding his amazing playing. I was hoping for the ARW studio work he would use his hammond, mellotron, mini moog, and prophet 5. Too bad it never happened. My biggest problem with ARW was his cheesy sounds don't match the "cool" vibe and sound of Rabin's style. And the noodling didn't go well with it either. I felt Kaye actually complemented Trevors style and sounds much better. Probably because Trevor played most of it on the records! lol

Regarding Relayer, I really hope they do a double keyboard thing and bring in Moraz. I'd be there for sure !!! I just don't see Geoff pulling of some of those out of this world solo's and parts. And I love Geoff...

[kkleinschmidt]

Kind of my sense as well: every Time Wakeman returns, his arsenal of sound effects gets a little thinner, a little tinnier and a little cheesier… A great musician, but not always with great taste, when keyboard presets come to mind…

Well said! I've been wondering about this for years. Is it because Rick happened to be in a place in time where keyboard technology was changing rapidly and he didn't consider how his sound changed significantly while the rest of Yes kept in their groove? Fragile/CTTE/TFTO all have the same basic keyboard vibe possibly because they were recorded in a relatively short amount of time with a good amount of touring in between recording sessions. I have no doubt that the new keyboards popping out in the late 70s were much easier to deal with for the most part, especially touring, but like you said GFTO and especially Tormato started sounding cheesy.

Back to Relayer - 5 and Patrick's contribution is a huge part of it. I really enjoyed the piano solo tour show I was able to get to and I really wish there were more opportunities to see him live especially with Yes.

[Olorin]

A total 5.

[Soundchaser413]

Although I couldn't vote, I say 5.

[scootwhoman]

I am assuming that a 5 is better than a 1. Relayer is exceptional, my favorite Yes album, one I have listened to over and over again. I really like how the band seems unified, everyone working together. The albums with Rick Wakeman seem like Rick is the lead, and the rest of the band are the back ups. 'Rick Wakeman and Yes.' The intensity of Soundchaser is unrivaled, with the incredible guitar solo, which is augmented by the bass starting a thread, rising to meet the lead, and the lead continuing on. Gates Of Delirium captures the true nature of war, which is so often depicted with marching music. People are not marching in the middle of a battle, it is chaos, utter confusion, which the band depicts perfectly. Then, the aftermath of battle, the mists rolling across the field, the questioning "Did I really survive?". And the incredible beauty of Soon, soaring to the heights of enlightenment. To Be Over starts as a round, one of the oldest musical forms, and builds and builds into affirmation; "Don't doubt your part, be ready to be loved." The entire composition seems to be written as one score, so unlike other Yes albums.

[Ron Murvihill]

5 for sure up there with Drama, Close to the Edge and Going For the One. Gates of Delirium is my all time favorite song. I made a video syncing up the '75 live show with the Steve Wilson remix. It is amazing how much of the material was played live verbatim from the studio track (especially Steve).

Anyway I thought this place would find people who would get a kick out of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nq2XgpJhd0

[Khatrooper]

Glad you survived.
I guess my story was too obtuse? It goes like this,
Yes toured Australia in 1973, heard the mythical Charger advertisement, and later ‘borrowed’ it & wrote Sound Chaser.

(Bang goes another kanga on the bonnet of the van. )

[Gilly Goodness]

Somewhere in the ancient past of the internet, someone wrote there was an Australian ad for the Dodge Charger (a hot car) in the early 70’s when Yes was touring in the neighbourhood. “Cha cha cha Charger”, and repeat. No one knew if they were serious or not.

Heeeheeee.

No. It was called a Chrysler charger. An Aussie manufacturer part owned by the American Dodge co..

It was a cool car. For revheads. V8. Sexy shape. 2 doors. Loud exhaust. Even kangaroos left no dents on the bonnet. Strong steel.

Don't remember any ad with Yes music. Was old enough to remember. Will do a Google search, however.

I do remember bein' in an accident in a similar car, a Chrysler valiant driven by a mate. Drunk with some mates. We rolled 8 times on a freeway embankment in Canberra at night. Young and dumb. No serious injuries. Remember the cops didn't give us a lift home. Had to walk 5 kilometers home.

[Khatrooper]

Just listened to Sound Chaser again for the first time in a while, and I liked it a lot more than I used to. Still, those cha-chas, why??

Somewhere in the ancient past of the internet, someone wrote there was an Australian ad for the Dodge Charger (a hot car) in the early 70’s when Yes was touring in the neighbourhood. “Cha cha cha Charger”, and repeat. No one knew if they were serious or not.

[Somis Sound]

5

The masterpiece.

Sounds like no one from this planet.

Steve's metallic tones are great.

Beautiful production.

Majestic Dean cover.

Even like the poem on the inside.

Peak prog.

Agree. My favorite Yes album. Like nothing else.... Out of this world.

[Oldie on the Goldie]

Why not?

[Ash Armstrong]

Just listened to Sound Chaser again for the first time in a while, and I liked it a lot more than I used to. Still, those cha-chas, why??

I believe it's ja-ja-ja, ja, ja
It's using the voice as a percussive instrument, just as they did towards the end of Siberian Khatru. Being all innovative and progressive again, that Yes.

[Davy]

Just listened to Sound Chaser again for the first time in a while, and I liked it a lot more than I used to. Still, those cha-chas, why??

[pjt]

5.
After CTTE and on par with GFtO and TYA. These four are my favourites of classic Yes. Gates and TBO are my all time favourites, and while I can't always listen to Soundchaser, I still admire it. It's a difficult listen, but contrary to the Ancient sometime I find the will to listen to it.