Tormato

by

Yes

Many people say that 'Tormato' is a bad album, a wall in YES career. Obviously this album is not a masterpiece in the YES discography, but an adaptation of the YES sound to the following 80s. Tormato is an irregular and inconsistent album, rather than a conceptual one. But the highlights overshadow the shadows.

With the two main singles "Don't Kill The Whale" and "Release, Release" YES were about to enter their arena rock era and Steve Howe was preparing for his Asia adventure. As usual in the YES discography, the production is terrible and Rick Wakeman's keyboards sound too shrill and circus-orientated ("Future Times/Rejoice" and "Circus of Heaven").

But the album saves the best material for the end. "Onward" is a great ballad in the same vein as "Turn of the Century" or "Wonderous Stories". It's Jon Anderson's highlight on this album. Chris Squire's is 'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom'. His bass lines here are excellent, making this one of Squire's best moments in the group's career.

(Originally written for Progarchives website, 25-07-2011)