What does it sound like?:
After the 1975 World Tour, Yes (now with Swiss ex-Refugee keyboard player, Patrick Moraz) all made solo albums. In hindsight, all were pretty good – “Ramshackled” maybe not QUITE so much. Moraz’s “The Story of i” brought his fusiony and world-music chops to the fore, in a way that, “Sound Chaser” excepted, was not really part of Yes’s sound. It is definitely progressive music, but has a lighter touch than rock, and the Brazillian elements are pretty prescient for a time when Bob Marley and Santana provided about the only non-western sound elements for the average rock fan (I realise I am writing for an audience who had exquisitely global tastes 20 years ahead of King Sunny Ade and Mongolian throat singing). The playing and recording is slick and top-quality, and represents the point at which progressive music was sneaking into the mainstream, and the music centres of the new housing estates for hip young marrieds. If it was more obscure, I am sure it would be a masterpiece of Euro progressive rock to taste makers, though it is, anyway. The children’s choir works, cheesy though it is, and a bit TOO Jon Anderson for me. (I can understand those for whom this may sound a little off-putting. If so, the extra track of the children’s choir alone may be disturbing.)
What does it all *mean*?
Progressive rock looks to the Latin world and gets a warm welcome. Brazil is still big in the global progressive rock scene for those who care. Not a lot of anger in this album, though elsewhere anger was going to be big, big BIG – and still is.
Goes well with…
Red wine and grass if you have any; sunshine (the stuff from the sky) for sure. Sunset on a warm day while feeling beatific.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Yes, jazz-fusion, retro latin jazz, Renaissance, progressive rock
Do you know, after this well articulated review, I might give this a go.
Great to see the LP reviewed here. My only remaining question is whether there is any reason for me to shell out once more for this little gem.
I lost the vinyl along the way somehow and eventually bought a previous CD issue some years ago – does this reveal any profound improvements due to remastering, or shall I remain content with my six-quid or thereabouts second hand earlier CD version?
I always think these things are very subjective – although it’s so long since I heard the original it’s hard to say anyway. The two bonus tracks don’t really add much though.
Cheers. I have a soft spot for the LP, so maybe I’ll be tempted anyway.