As with the band’s previous studio release, 2021 The pursuit, Guitarist Steve Howe produced the 2023 release of Yes. mirror to the sky. In fact, it could be said that Howe actually spearheads (no pun intended) the musical force of his prog supergroup at this point, pretty much the master architect and stunning player (as always) of the entire album.
With no original members left, Howe carries on the Yes brand with his younger Yesmates – keyboardist Geoff Downes, vocalist Jon Davison, bassist Billy Sherwood and drummer Jay Schellen, who was chosen to join the band by his mentor and friend Alan White in 2016 –2017 Topographic drama touring and is now the group’s permanent drummer.
Sherwood’s prominent walking bass leads “Cut From The Stars” as the rest of the band join in. Elsewhere, Howe soars down the slide on “Living Out Their Dream” while the title track is pretty much a tour de force for the guitarist, with lots of different moods, lots of orchestrated interplay and beautiful harmonies.
Comprised of sweet vocals, acoustic guitar and spare keys, “Circle of Time” evokes the softer side of what Yes has always been about. If you’re a fan of Howe’s acoustic prowess to match his clean guitar riff then then mirror to the sky is a good place to find both.
“Magic Potion,” one of three Howes compositions to appear on the album’s bonus CD, is this incarnation of Yes at his best. Howe’s layering of pedal steel, acoustic and electric serves as the album’s highlight throughout. As a whole, mirror to the sky definitely gives us all a good sense of where Yes is at this time and place.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
English
العربية
Nederlands
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
日本語
한국어
Русский
Español
Svenska
Türkçe
اردو
Tiếng Việt