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WHERE'S THE BASS, ITS ALL TOO COMPRESSED. WHERE'S THE PUNCH. Yes: Live at Montreux 2003 I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER YES "LIGHT" (AS IN LIGHT BEER) SHOW. I'VE SEEN YES 44 TIMES AND I KNOW WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. YOU NEED TO HEAR ALL THE INSTRUMENTS BUT NOT AT THE SAME LEVEL ALL MIXED INTO A MONOTONE YES.
(I've seen live, or heard, over 75 different live Yesshows over the years). Rick and Steve are at their professional, emotional and technical peaks that night during that song. But the band's actual playing has as much to do with it as well. A close 4th, for performance, but not sound, is 'Starship Trooper" from 'Live in Philadelpgia 1979" (Yes, that single song performance alone comes in 4th all by itself).
But the songs are played extremely well and with great charisma and artistry. This concert video shows age has not diminished their skills or technical musical prowess. At their popular and cultural height in the 70's, Yes members were all phenominal musicians. It is the entire show from the tour. All members are in great form and the performance and sound are flawless. The 'Word is Live' Discs 2 and 3 from the live CD box are a close 3rd. 5th, Symphonic Live (Magnification Tour).But, the sound and performances here in Montreux are cleaner, and due to technology-they should be.
I'm sure some will say they notice speed changes, etc. Outstanding Concert, best of the DVD video series yet.It has nothing but the concert, but that is all you need. The next best thing, live experience or recording, that is closest to this show is the 'Yessongs' recording from 1974. Nearly every track is as good or better than it's studio predecessor or performed better than any version live on video derived over the last 15 to 20 years.
this is the first blu ray i bought, and i couldn't be happier. playing together 40+ years makes them very tight. they can't come close to their early years.also looks like they still enjoy playing, and not just going thru the motions.A+. saw yes with dream theater a few years back. they blew me away. jon's voice has really held up.just listen to roger daltrey.robert plant.and others.
All the five members are professional musicians and play the songs very well. Highly Recommended. I'm Yes fan since the 1970. This Blu-Ray has a high quality, both sound and picture.
His brilliant solo interpretation of "To Be Over" proves that musicality and virtuosity need not conflict. His best solo set can be found on "An Evening of Yes Music Plus", which featured a solo piano take on "Madrigal" that I found myself wishing had been included in this show.This was perhaps my favorite "Whitefish" performance of all time, although the 9012Live CD version is a close contender. Even then, Jon's vocal performance on the new song "Show Me", without a lot of previous history to form specific expectations, was beautiful, and was far from his only shining moment in the show.I believe the night belonged to Steve Howe most of all. This was preceded by perhaps the most delicate and precise live performance of "Long Distance Runaround" heard to date.Instead of trying to out-do or re-create previous live performances, Yes somehow managed to play it all like they had just written it yesterday, and that is a refreshing and unexpected gift.
Wakeman was no slouch in this regard either, disappointing only in his by-the-numbers solo set, which while flawlessly executed, did not carry the sense of vitality that was the hallmark of most of the evening's performances. This was a very focused performance, with a lot of subtlety, precision and improvisation seemingly inspired and elevated by the spirit of jazz which infuses the setting.Don't expect the blistering rock of "Yessongs" or "Yesshows". I would have to go back and check to see if they had ever previously included the beautiful extract from the seldom heard and under-rated "On The Silent Wings of Freedom" as part of "Whitefish". If any Alan White doubters remain, they need only watch and hear this concert. More importantly, this show impressed me in ways I had not even been led to expect.I think there must be something special about Montreux as an event, with it's legacy of historic Jazz and Rock performers and performances, that inspires those honored to participate to perform at their very best.This was not the usual tired and goofy end-of-tour Yes that usually ends up on video. For the first time in my memory, the live Yes most sonically resembled the Yes of "Fragile". White is a consummate drummer with a range of style and touch that encompasses that of even Bruford, and his dedication to a mostly acoustic kit has proven the better choice over the long run.Every band member was in top form, with the inevitable exception of some required vocal forgiveness which is inescapable at this late date. He impressed technically, without seeming showy or hammy, because every effort was devoted to the music, rather than the musician.
My only quibble is a rather abrupt and arbitrary transition back into "The Fish" at the end, especially when all of the other segues had been handled with much more subtlety. I am happy to report that, for me, this mostly lives up to the hyperbolic enthusiasm of the other reviewers. A singular album in it's relatively light touch and rhythmic intricacy. Throughout the evening, Steve maintained the perfect balance between hitting the licks we are programmed to crave, while providing enough improvisational creativity to make every song seem new again.
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