Mirror to the Sky—A Review
Like many longterm Yes fans, I want to like this album. The various selections making up the 9-cut collection are mostly pretty tunes, peppered with just enough steel guitar, decorative keyboarding, and tempo change to be identifiably Yes. The album begins with attention-getter “Cut from the Stars.” Billy Sherwood steals the show, reinforcing with a punchy, assertive bassline that he is heir to the inimitable Chris Squire. Aside from the bass, which is startling at times, the song is lightweight and appealing.
Second up, the band offers “All Connected,” carrying the message that we are all connected! Well-crafted harmony supports Jon Davison’s lead vocals on this one, and the internal tempo change adds interest.
“Luminosity” could be a mood-changer if not for the repeated, strange pronunciation of the word luminous. Davison consistently says “luminess,” which distracts this former Voice and Diction instructor. This song also contains the phrase “ocean of humanity” in several verses. On the upside, Steve Howe is much improved at backing vocals.
“Living Out Their Dream” is the rocker thus far, with an interesting tempo change toward the end. I wouldn’t expect a repeat of the success of “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” but this one gets an A for accessibility.
“Mirror to the Sky” is the title cut. It features beautifully layered interplay of guitar and piano in the opening minutes. This instrumental portion boasts another great bassline from Sherwood. I don’t hear a prominent bass-percussion connection as in some Yes anthems; still, the instrumentation is quite impressive. Its texture is thick and rich due to orchestral support. Acoustic guitar and strings interact nicely going into the final “movement.” Could this be another Yes epic? I don’t think so, but it has strengths.
“Circles of Time” gets the dubious honor of being the next cut following “Mirror.” I admit they lost me with the line “ticking time bomb.” Behind that selection comes “Unknown Place.” It’s rhythmically interesting, but first, the listener is treated to what sounds like a series of slamming doors in the opening seconds.
“One Second Is Enough.” Yes, I agree. The harmony here is very good, but it has to be, with lyrics like “In the afterglow there’s a lot we know” and “Happiness comes and goes.” Fortunately, the album wraps up with “Magic Potion” and a compelling finish by Sherwood.
I do not listen as a musician would, nor do I particularly review records for musicians. Still, I won’t fall back on the old I’m-not-a-musician-but-I-know-what-I-like routine. I’ve been a Yes aficionada since I was a college kid. I listen critically for strengths and weaknesses. MTTS has both. Its content is mostly melodic, concisely conceived and delivered. As I have noted, Billy Sherwood deserves high praise for his contribution, helping this incarnation of the band to coalesce. Steve Howe is his usual super-pro self with master’s level guitar and useful vocals. I think there is room for growth in other departments, and compared to The Quest, that may be happening.
