KAZUMI WATANABE — Kilowatt (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A textbook study of what hard-edged fusion should be all about, Watanabe's strings come to life with a supercharged electricity that is often interesting, often harsh, and once in a while pleasant and melodic. Watanabe seems to favor soloing in the hard rocker vein but also gets in some nice moments on more gentle moody pieces like "Pretty Soon" and "Dolphin Dance." Especially engaging are the electric vibe work of John Wackerman and Wayne Shorter's solid sax on "Capri." For those into melodic pop-jazz, this disc should be approached with caution. If you love hefty guitar licks, however, it's a must. Jonathan Widran
Tracklist :
1.        1000 Mega 4:57
Written-By – Kazumi Watanabe
2.        Capri 4:09
Written-By – Kazumi Watanabe
3.        No One 5:31
Written-By – Bunny Brunel, Kazumi Watanabe
4.        Jive 3:46
Written-By – Bunny Brunel, Kazumi Watanabe
5        Papyrus 4:49
Written-By – Kazumi Watanabe
6.        Sunspin 5:13
Written-By – Kazumi Watanabe
7.        Pretty Soon 5:35
Written-By – Bunny Brunel
8.        Bernard 4:39
Written-By – Bunny Brunel
9.        Dolphin Dance 6:58
Written-By – Herbie Hancock
10.        Good Night Machines 6:17
Written-By – Bunny Brunel, Kazumi Watanabe, Patrick Moraz
Credits :
Bass, Synthesizer [Synth Bass], Keyboards – Bunny Brunel
Drums, Synthesizer [Synth Drums], Vibraphone [Electric Vibe] – John Wackerman
Guitar [Guitars], Guitar Synthesizer [Synth Guitars], Keyboards – Kazumi Watanabe
Keyboards – Patrick Moraz (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 8, 10)
Percussion [Percussions] – Alex Acuna (tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Saxophone [Sax] – Wayne Shorter (tracks: 2, 8)  

CHRIS SQUIRE — Fish Out of Water (1975-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Serie Yes Solos Collection | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Yes-like in every possible aspect, Chris Squire's Fish out of Water is an album that's typical of his band's progressive formula: softened keyboard extensions à la Patrick Moraz, steady yet atmospheric percussion work from Bill Bruford, and a smattering of flute and saxophone that accompanies a small orchestra, which includes effective horn and harp work. Squire's guitar playing is standard, coming to life the most on "Silently Falling" and "Lucky Seven," with the former boosted by a rather dazzling synthesizer solo from Moraz. Even though there are few surprises laid out on the album's five tracks, the elemental composition of pure '70s progressive rock is strewn across each song from start to finish. Squire even sounds like Jon Anderson, especially on "Hold out Your Hand," and each of the song's melodies cater to Squire's vocal ascent. Fish out of Water harbors some firm instrumental and vocal cross-breeding while remaining well within the prog rock norm. Mike DeGagne 
Tracklist :
1.     Hold Out Your Hand 4:14 
2.     You By My Side 5:03
3.     Silently Falling 11:21
4.     Lucky Seven 6:57
5.     Safe (Canon Song) 14:53
Credits :
Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Arranged By, Producer, Written-By – Chris Squire
Drums, Percussion – Bill Bruford
Flute – Jimmy Hastings
Harp – David Snell
Leader [Brass Sections] – John Wilbraham
Leader [Horn Sections] – Jim Buck
Leader [String Sections] – Julian Gaillard
Leader [Woodwind Sections] – Adrian Brett
Organ [Pipe] – Barry Rose
Organ, Synthesizer [Bass] – Patrick Moraz
Piano, Electric Piano, Conductor – Andrew Pryce Jackman
Saxophone – Mel Collins

YES — Relayer (1974-2019) UHQCD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Yes had fallen out of critical favor with Tales from Topographic Oceans, a two-record set of four songs that reviewers found indulgent. But they had not fallen out of the Top Ten, and so they had little incentive to curb their musical ambitiousness. Relayer, released 11 months after Tales, was a single-disc, three-song album, its music organized into suites that alternated abrasive, rhythmically dense instrumental sections featuring solos for the various instruments with delicate vocal and choral sections featuring poetic lyrics devoted to spiritual imagery. Such compositions seemed intended to provide an interesting musical landscape over which the listener might travel, and enough Yes fans did that to make Relayer a Top Ten, gold-selling hit, though critics continued to complain about the lack of concise, coherent song structures. William Ruhlmann

Tracklist :

1.     The Gates Of Delirium (Anderson-Howe-Squire-White-Moraz) 21:57

2.     Sound Chaser (Anderson-Howe-Squire-White-Moraz) 9:27

3.     To Be Over (Anderson-Howe-Squire-White-Moraz) 9:20

Musicians :

Jon Anderson - Vocals

Steve Howe - Guitars, Vocals

Patrick Moraz - Keyboards

Chris Squire - Bass, Vocals

Alan White - Drums, Percussion
+ Série: – The Steven Wilson Remixes

YES – Yesshows (1979-2009) 2CD | RM | Mini LP | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The second official concert package from Yes contains tunes recorded over a span of two years (1976-1978) and two different incarnations of the band. Like its live predecessor Yessongs (1973), Yesshows finds the combo during one of their states of perpetual change. Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass/vocals), and Alan White (drums) are joined by Rick Wakeman (keyboards) on a majority of the selections. The exceptions being "Gates of Delirium" from Relayer (1974) and the Tales from Topographic Oceans' (1973) epic "Ritual" – which is presented in two parts – and has Patrick Moraz (keyboards) in Wakeman's stead. The original concept contained a few features that would have been akin to Yessongs. They debated as to whether they should make it another triple-LP and feature Tales from Topographic Oceans in its entirety, like Close to the Edge had been done on Yessongs. Undecided, they made a rough mix of a two-album incarnation, but then shelved it in order to focus their attentions on creating new music. Purportedly, that unapproved (by Yes, anyway) version was cleaned up by the record company and released for the holiday shopping frenzy of 1980. As issued, the seven tracks hang well together and provide enthusiasts an opportunity to hear a mixture of older and newer material. Best of all, Yes retain their enviable ability to ably re-create the complex and challenging passages with a soul that is occasionally lacking from the studio counterparts. Reaching back nearly a decade is an excellent update of the optimistic "Aquarian Age" anthem and the title composition of their second platter, "Time and a Word." It is enveloped by a pair of equally well-executed sides from Going for the One (1977). Here, both the opener "Parallels" and the song "Going for the One" exceed the comparatively sterile non-live readings. Particularly endearing and inspired is Anderson's off-key voice crack during the high-octane chorus of the latter. The more involved works – especially the Moraz performances on "The Gates of Delirium" and the nearly half-hour "Ritual" – are fuelled by a continuous energy. They build on the structure established from the respective long-players, yet even the most intricate elements and dynamics are amplified in their decisiveness and command. Anderson's intimacy and passion fuse on the closer "Wondrous Stories," almost as if releasing the audience from one last embrace. Lindsay Planer 

Tracklist 1 :

1.     Parallels (7:08)

2.     Time And A Word (4:07)

3.     Going For The One (5:24)

4.     The Gates Of Delirium (22:43)

Tracklist 2:

1.     Don't Kill The Whale (6:51)

2.     Ritual / Nous Sommes Du Soleil - 1 & 2 (28:55)

3.     Wonderous Stories (3:59)

4.     I've Seen All Good People (7:32)

5.     Roundabout (7:54)

Musicians :

Jon Anderson - Vocals

Chris Squire - Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mixing

Steve Howe - Guitars, Vocals

Patrick Moraz - keyboards

Rick Wakeman - keyboards

Alan White - Drums, Vocals