New Album recording “well advanced”

[Gilly Goodness]

I agree with that 🙂. Actually, I can understand how Chris's solo voice might not appeal to all, but it"s texture and delivery is not off-putting to me and suits his material, which I like, especially on FOOW. Although later things like Aliens (the live Yes version) are pretty awful. Billy Sherwood's lead vocals, on the other hand, really grate on my ears for the most part. Steve just isn't a lead singer and shouldn't try IMO. I love the guitar work on Beginnings, but the vocals are an embarrassment. He has improved a bit recently, but not enough to take the lead or co-lead. Great vocal harmonies were always one of the key ingredients of Yes, but that is no longer true on TQ

What do you think about the harmonies and multi-tracked vocals on A Livin' Island?

[ragtime]

What do you think about the harmonies and multi-tracked vocals on A Livin' Island?

I had to listen again (TQ is not really lodged in my memory or imagination, I'm afraid). There are some quite nice 'ooh, aah' backing choir passages (possibly Billy, but not sure, it might just be Jon D multi-tracking himself) that briefly show up. For the most part I think it's all Jon singing his own complementary vocal parts. Unlike some here, I don't really love the song - it's too musical theatre for me - but the little bits of harmony are well done.

[Gilly Goodness]

Fair enough. Hits differently for people.
From memory they used Juano's initial vocals and multis that he did in Barbados for the album as they held the most mojo.

[Chris2210]

I agree with that 🙂. Actually, I can understand how Chris's solo voice might not appeal to all, but it"s texture and delivery is not off-putting to me and suits his material, which I like, especially on FOOW. Although later things like Aliens (the live Yes version) are pretty awful. Billy Sherwood's lead vocals, on the other hand, really grate on my ears for the most part. Steve just isn't a lead singer and shouldn't try IMO. I love the guitar work on Beginnings, but the vocals are an embarrassment. He has improved a bit recently, but not enough to take the lead or co-lead. Great vocal harmonies were always one of the key ingredients of Yes, but that is no longer true on TQ

On FooW I find Squire’s vocals thin, reedy and constantly strained - and it just irritates me. Both he and Howe latterly seem to have learned to sing more within their limited vocal ranges. On Beginnings, it’s clear Howe is attempting to sing well out of his range (and failing), but I like the musicality of his attempt if that makes any sense. I find it interesting, but only a fool would argue it’s technically successful. I suppose it’s a trick of mental gymnastics to make it bearable.

You’re absolutely right about the harmony singing and articulated it much better than I could. On that subject I think David was very badly served on FFH. I think he’s a far better singer than Horn, but it’s clear he’s instructed to follow Horn’s guide vocal on the latter’s material. The vocals on From a Page are far stronger - by my lights the best on any post-Magnification work. It’s one of the things that probably make the material appealing to me.

[Nelson]

I have lowered expectations towards Yes and related new music. I enjoyed The Quest…played it the other day on a road trip and it’s quite good. Some 70’s artists don’t put in the work anymore, Steve Howe put in the work…Yes is in good hands with Steve….l listened to some new Jon Anderson songs on YouTube…Jon sounds spontaneous…not much thought or work being put in…Steve he needs someone like you!

[bondegezou]

Do we know, by which I mean 'does Henry know', if they've been meeting up to rehearse for the UK dates, since they might take advantage of that to throw new ideas around? Whilst I'm sure much of the writing and arranging will be carried out via file-sharing, and therefore remotely, I can't help but feel it would be to the music's, and the album's, advantage to all be in the same room playing together.

I don't think they've met up all together for UK tour rehearsals yet. I presume that will happen after Cruise to the Edge (which Sherwood is on). The album, as far as I know, has been largely written, so I'm sure they'll be discussing the album during rehearsals, but they'll have to be discussing the stuff they're up to now.

What I don't know is how much they were able to meet up in person during the writing of this album. They'd begun working on this album, I believe, when TQ was being released, so back in Oct 2021. While there were still some COVID-19 restrictions on travelling etc. for much of the period between then and now, it would've been possible for them to have all met up, but if they did, they did in secret. I'm not aware of Howe or Downes going to the States, or Sherwood or White coming to the UK, but we know Davison has been back and forth.

[Gilly Goodness]

but we know Davison has been back and forth.

So can we finally say he is the glue of YES and the new keeper of the flame?

[Soundwaveseeker]

On FooW I find Squire’s vocals thin, reedy and constantly strained - and it just irritates me. Both he and Howe latterly seem to have learned to sing more within their limited vocal ranges. On Beginnings, it’s clear Howe is attempting to sing well out of his range (and failing), but I like the musicality of his attempt if that makes any sense. I find it interesting, but only a fool would argue it’s technically successful. I suppose it’s a trick of mental gymnastics to make it bearable.

You’re absolutely right about the harmony singing and articulated it much better than I could. On that subject I think David was very badly served on FFH. I think he’s a far better singer than Horn, but it’s clear he’s instructed to follow Horn’s guide vocal on the latter’s material. The vocals on From a Page are far stronger - by my lights the best on any post-Magnification work. It’s one of the things that probably make the material appealing to me.

David's vocals on Gift Of Love are spot-on and VERY 'Yes', especially the 'ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahhhhh' part. Interesting how his voice sounds on 'From a Turn of the Card', a lower range. That's for anyone curious as to what Yes would sound like with lower vocals.

[Frumious B]

I like Squire’s singing both solo and harmony. The vocals of Fish Out Of Water sound a little bit like Sting to me. There’s a similarity to the way they annunciate words.

[Frumious B]

What do you think about the harmonies and multi-tracked vocals on A Livin' Island?

I actually kind of like that bit and Davison’s approach for the first part of the song. It reminds me of Sunflower era Beach Boys. Unfortunately the track is ruined for me by the lame, lame, lame lame ending.

[Chris2210]

I like Squire’s singing both solo and harmony. The vocals of Fish Out Of Water sound a little bit like Sting to me. There’s a similarity to the way they annunciate words.

I think you mean enunciate. An annunciation is an entirely different thing - I know there's a lot of Squire worship, but...

As to similarities with Sting, perhaps on things like the beginning of Money for Nothing, otherwise Sumner is a much more serviceable vocalist. His lyrics on the other hand...

[Davy]

... are fine.

[Chris2210]

Would they think that we was dumb, if we dropped the atom bomb?

I'm an Englishman in New York, you can hear it in my accent when I [wait for it] talk.

Some of the more egregious examples, I'm sure there are more. There are far, far worse lyricists out there in terms of the bulk of their work,, but few who can come up with such quite notable howlers. I think he was an English teacher at one time, too.

[bondegezou]

Young teacher, the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside him, there's longing
This girl's an open page
Book marking, she's so close now
This girl is half his age
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me
Her friends are so jealous
You know how bad girls get
Sometimes it's not so easy
To be the teacher's pet
Temptation, frustration
So bad it makes him cry
Wet bus stop, she's waiting
His car is warm and dry
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me
Loose talk in the classroom
To hurt they try and try
Strong words in the staff room
The accusations fly
It's no use, he sees her
He starts to shake and cough
Just like the old man in
That book by Nabokov
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me
Don't stand, don't stand so
Don't stand so close to me

[Davy]

Every singer has bad lyrics. 😀