Customer Reviews

Keys to Ascension

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In late 1995-early 1996, the classic Yes lineup -- Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, White -- got together to record an album in the Yesworld Studio in San Luis Obispo, California. In March 1996, they played three straight nights of shows in that city. The best of the live recordings are included on this 2-CD set, along with half a CD of studio tracks (of course, by Yes standards, half a CD just means two tracks...and 30 minutes of music).

The album would be worth it just for the first live recordings of the epics "The Revealing Science of God" and "Awaken". Both are fantastic renditions. (Wakeman's pipe organ solo on "Awaken" is unfocused compared to the studio version; if you get bored, listen for Anderson plucking a harp in the background.) There is also a take on "Siberian Khatru" that rivals the "Yessongs" version. The Yes arrangement of Paul Simon's "America" has never been a favorite of mine; the unease of the lyrics is at odds with the brash instrumental passages between the verses. But the take here is almost enough to make a believer out of me. I can't picture the song being performed any better than this. One of the last songs I ever expected on a Yes live album was "Onward", a sweet-nothing love song by Squire from the "Tormato" album. It's about the most simple, straightforward song Yes has ever done, and it works here just BECAUSE of that. In between the long, convoluted songs, the simplicity of "Onward" allows the listeners to rest and cleanse their aural palates before diving into "Awaken". The second CD includes the encores: a solid reading of "Roundabout" and a version of "Starship Trooper" that may be better than the one on "Yessongs", with Howe and Wakeman swapping solos during an extended ending. The sound quality on the live tracks is great, much better than was possible on Yes' 1970s earlier live albums.

Of the studio tracks, the 10-minute "Be the One" is very good, with a soaring melody and Anderson's uplifting chorus "Be the one giving in to love/Never let the good in life desert you". "That, That Is" starts with a lovely Howe acoustic guitar theme, but is too uneven a song to sustain its 19-minute length.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

IMO their best live album, but as such perhaps not essential. However, America, the Paul Simon tune plus some Bernstein references makes a rare and very good appearance here (listen to the guitar solo from 5:30 throuugh 8:20!) and Onward is way better than the studio version, being played here unplugged rather than the strange electric workout on Tormato. The studio s=tracks are not bad either and show that there is life in Yes in the 90's. It would be brave, and quite possibly better, to release the studio tracks of KtA 1 & 2 together, as they are a lot better than Open your mind

Mostly I am psyched about the live material. The performances are awesome, and the choice of cuts, with songs like "The Revealing Science of God," my favorite Yes piece in accordance with one of the fans below is pretty deep-cutting into the Yes catalog. I also agree with a customer below that Squire's "Onward" is about 10,000 time better than the Tormato version, which I absolutely hated more than any other Yes song (save, perhaps "Arriving UFO" and "Saving My Heart"). It has been transformed into a beautiful work centered around the classical guitar mastery of Steve Howe, rather than the thin sounding studio electric version. Anderson and Squire's harmonies soar on this cut. I'd say this album is worth it for these 2 tracks alone. As for the studio stuff, I've listened to it a few times but can't remember how most of it goes. It didn't have the impact on me that songs from albums like "Close to the Edge" or even "ABWH," which these songs seem to be trying to emulate, have, but then they do seem worthy of my giving them more listens. It's just hard to not put on the live stuff when I pull out this album!

This is what we want, what we've been needing for so long. A Yes release like in the good ol' times. With enchanting live performances of some of the all time greatest epics, and then the big surprise: two absolutely brilliant new studio tracks.

From the very first tunes, you can just sense this is it! The breathtaking »Siberian Khatru« opens this celebration of the gods of symphonic rock. And from there on, there's no way back. And you wish it'd never end.

The studio tracks are the 9:50 minutes long »Be The One« and the 19:14 minutes long »That, That Is«. Both are great compositions like Yes did'em back in the famous »Close To The Edge« days. Yet, the sound is a tiny bit more 1990's. Without falling anywhere near the trap of commerciality.

What can I say - just buy »Keys To Ascension«. It is absolutely brilliant. And maybe the last time Yes will ever release new songs of this caliber.

After many years of Yes'line ups formed by Horn, Downes, Moraz and the return of Tony Kaye. Yes returned to the classic line up to play two concerts in San Luis Obispo, California and to release new studio songs.

The result: Yes at their best.

CD 1 start with "Siberian Khatru" (as Yessongs), greatest versions of epic songs as "The Revealing Science of God" & "Awaken", and Squire's beautiful one "Onward" and Paul Simon's "America".

CD 2 contains excellent live versions of "Roundabout" (essential) and "Starship Trooper" (one of my favourite Yes songs) and two decent studio tracks.

This album (and KTA 2) are the definitive Yes live compilation, much better as Yessongs & Yesshows. The sound is perfect and all instruments are played as always excellent from these talented musicians.

The return of Rick Wakeman to these concerts was the most important event to Yes in many, many years, definitively he is a great genious, the best keyboard player on Earth.

If you want to listen to the "old classics" of this band, played magistrally many years later, buy this 2 CD Set NOW!

Keys to ascension es un disco exelente, los 7 temas grvados en vivo, son versiones espectaculares de algunos de los mejores temas de esta, ami modo de ver, la banda mas grade de la historia, ademas la performanse en vivo del grupo hace que suene como si fuera en estudio. ademas los dos tracks nuevos sosn exelentes especialmente that,that,is que se convirtio en uno de mis preferidos, recomiendo este cd, es muy muy bueno

OK, OK, so this album has yet ANOTHER live version of Roundabout and Starship Trooper. Despite that fact, this is a gem of an album. The two studio recordings, "Be The One" and "That, That Is" are top notch. Put on your wristwatch and then start up "That, That Is." You'll be surprised. It's the "shortest" nineteen-minute song ever recorded. Chris Squire's live "Onward" is gorgeous and moving...far superior to the studio version on Tormato. "Awaken" is absolutely magnificent. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.

This beautifully-packaged 2-CD release was recorded live over the course of a three night stand performance in San Luis Obispo,California in March,1996.It boasts of a gem of a line-up of:Anderson,Squire,Howe,Wakeman and White.I wasn't even aware that Howe or Wakeman had anything to do with Yes anymore.Newly recorded tracks include "Onward","Be The One" and the twenty-minute epic "That,That Is".I sort of dug the Paul Simon tune they play,"America".Anderson's vocals certainly give the classic a nice touch.The only two tracks here that I recognized were "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper".'Keys To...' is pretty much aimed toward BIG-time Yes fans.Perhaps a little to artsy-fartsy for some.Great sound mix and production.

After "Talk" in 1994 Trevor Rabin and Tony Kaye left the band. After two years of no Yes music what many Yes fans consider to be the classic lineup of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White got back together for the first time since the "Tormato" album in 1978. The band did a series of special shows in California that were recorded for a live album and video. Along with the live stuff they recorded two new studio tracks "Be The One" and "That, That Is" clocking in a 9:50 and 19:14 minutes respectively and represented basically an EP's worth of new material. The result was the two disc "Keys To Ascension I" album. Disc one is all live and disc two has two live tracks and the two new studio recordings. The live stuff here is great. The band play with vitality and vigor not heard since the "Yessongs" live album from back in the early 70's. The set includes some great songs too including "Awaken", "Onward", and "Siberian Khatru". Even the old war-horses "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper" sound fresh and exiting. The two new studio tracks are both good, but not classic. I think I like the shorter one "Be The One" the best. The long 20 minute epic "That, That Is" seems to be long just for the sake of being long, but it is still good. This album seems to be out of print and even difficult to find used. Too bad because it is certainly worth owning.

A fantastic Cd for a Yes fan. The 5 stars are mainly for That That Is though. I don't get some of the reviews for this song. Classic Yes has always been about long form songs. I played this song for a few musician friends of mine a few years ago and they were plainly blowed away by the Steve Howe extended jam near the end. These guys are in a new Metal band and never really listened to Yes. After I played this for them they wanted to hear some other stuff by Yes so I played Tormato for them. I think I ruined a perfectly good metal band that day? Oh well