New Geoff Downes interview - scienceofnoise.net

[cesar44]

Perhaps I was exaggerating when I said that the Yes of the 70's were a model for the current line-up, but either way I think this influence is much more on the radar now than it has been in the last few decades. And the label, on the other hand, was quite clear when it came to their thoughts on what they hoped for the new album, as Davison reported.

[cesar44]

I think that, in comparative terms, the material on the current version of Yes is closer to the Yes of the 70's than any other version in the last 43 years. I'm not necessarily talking about quality, but about some stylistic aspects. I credit this to Howe's approach as bandleader, obviously without any 80´s Yes nostalgia, and the way Davison composes the vocal parts. From the 80's, Jon Anderson changed his way of singing and composing, simplifying his vocal lines and adopting pop influences that were more modern and commercial, especially 80's world music and "new age". Davison, as a vocalist, has a more closed approach within the classic Yes style, something already noticed since Glass Hammer.

[Mr. Holland]

If 70s Yes is the band's ideal model, they are not achieving their objective. My view is that the band, especially Steve Howe who is control, wants to create a new Yes sound.

Geoff and Billy's writing styles are very different to Tony's, Rick's and Chris's. Davison's lyrics and natural style are distinctive too. It's not surprising that that The Quest and Mirror To The Sky are not like the 70s Yes albums. They are not like Drama or Fly From Here or even Heaven & Earth.

The big question is whether the band is confident that the fans like the new style. It will be answered when the set list for the next tour is revealed. If there are only a couple or so of songs from The Quest and MTTS, it will suggest that the answer is no because tours are the key means to promote sales. If so, we will have to also question the future of the current line-up.

The touring business has changed immensely over the course of the last three decades or so. The times that touring was a means to promote new albums is long behind us. The majority of older acts don't play a lot of new music on tour, because the touring business model is way more based now on nostalgia and promoters and booking agents now demand a large portion of a setlist consists of classics and hits. If anything nowadays a new album is more often used to get attention and promote an upcoming tour than vice versa.

[Mr. Holland]

Interestingly, Downes confused the length time of All Connect with that of the title track. Another point is that he doesn't seem to be interested in a version of Yes closer to what the band was in the 70's. However, I think this is his personal view. I believe that the rest of the band and the label itself currently have the Yes of the 70's as their ideal model.

I don't believe that. I think this current incarnation is very much aiming to be its own thing. This is of course much easier to do on/with new studio albums, because they have to write new music, compared to touring where not only attendees expect a good portion of classics, but promoters and bookers demand that as well.

[Kenny]

Interestingly, Downes confused the length time of All Connect with that of the title track. Another point is that he doesn't seem to be interested in a version of Yes closer to what the band was in the 70's. However, I think this is his personal view. I believe that the rest of the band and the label itself currently have the Yes of the 70's as their ideal model.

If 70s Yes is the band's ideal model, they are not achieving their objective. My view is that the band, especially Steve Howe who is control, wants to create a new Yes sound.

Geoff and Billy's writing styles are very different to Tony's, Rick's and Chris's. Davison's lyrics and natural style are distinctive too. It's not surprising that that The Quest and Mirror To The Sky are not like the 70s Yes albums. They are not like Drama or Fly From Here or even Heaven & Earth.

The big question is whether the band is confident that the fans like the new style. It will be answered when the set list for the next tour is revealed. If there are only a couple or so of songs from The Quest and MTTS, it will suggest that the answer is no because tours are the key means to promote sales. If so, we will have to also question the future of the current line-up.

[cesar44]

Interestingly, Downes confused the length time of All Connect with that of the title track. Another point is that he doesn't seem to be interested in a version of Yes closer to what the band was in the 70's. However, I think this is his personal view. I believe that the rest of the band and the label itself currently have the Yes of the 70's as their ideal model.

[downbyariver]

Here are some excerpts from a machine translation of the interview. I am not fluent in the language the article is written in, so I can't even smooth it out without risking further diminishing it's reliability. I'm just trusting my software here.

Asia:

When you talk about Asia you do it like it's an active band or it's already a closed chapter for you?

Asia form of myself. I still want to continue with the project and certainly journalists and fans continue to respond, although they are a little sad because things are a bit stopped. It is sad for me too, particularly because John Wetton it is gone and we write most of the songs together. I believe that the music of the group still stands and that there are some great songs that deserve to be played live. We made some great albums and I think hopefully we can go on tour again sometime. We will see what happens in the future.

Not in reference to Asia, Yes, or any band in particular:

I am always creating music, it is a privilege, and I will do it for as long as possible.

Yes, Mirror to the Sky:

I have to say that my favorite songs on the album are "Luminosity" and "Living Out the Dream" and I think the latter is the only one you have composed for this album. I think it is a very optimistic and rocking song. What could you tell me about this composition?

Well, it's a song made from old ideas a long time ago and then I ended it with Steve Howe And I think, in general, there is an optimistic feeling that plans over the entire album. I think it's because we all get along very well in the studio. We went through the pandemic, we have had to postpone plans, but this band has been together with this formation for seven years. And I think we are in a very good time, we have developed a sound and it is as if the group had written a new chapter in their history.

Yes ... that shows in the sound of the album. That song was certainly something I wrote in the past, and it is true that I have not made a great contribution to the composition of this album. But "Living Out the Dream" was already highly developed, it was practically complete. The most important thing is that in this work Jon Davison He has gone to the front line as a composer, he has uncovered himself as a writer, and I consider that this is very important for the band. We are very happy to have a singer capable of composing his own music, although we all contribute to it.

On Jon Davison's development as a singer:

I have to say that Jon Davison's voice is incredible. He may remind you of Jon Anderson, but he has his own style, and obviously he can sing it all: past and present. What did you think the first time you heard Jon Davison's voice?

I believe that Jon, As I have already told you, he has really come to achieve what he aspired to. He has really developed his own style. I think when he first entered the band in 2012, he had to stick a lot to the sound model of Jon Anderson and the voice of Jon Anderson , which was understandable because the music of And it is you need that kind of voice. Everything pivots regarding that central point that is the vocal line.

But I think when he entered, he felt he had to evolve and that he needed to distance himself from Jon Anderson But you know, it's a voice that is very associated with this style. As time has passed, he has developed a lot of his own technique and his own sound, and I think it is a very important part of what the group's current music has become. I think he has something very his own, he has his own style, his own energy, he has a balance between what he has contributed and what was his starting point in the group.

[cesar44]

https://www.scienceofnoise.net/entrevista-a-geoff-downes-teclista-de-yes-siempre-estoy-creando-musica-es-un-privilegio-y-lo-hare-durante-tanto-tiempo-como-me-sea-posible/

long interview (spanish)