------------------------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 20, 1978 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Progrography http://www.connollyco.com/discography/yes/tormato.html Review: Tormato By Dave Connolly Tormato Arranged and Produced by Yes Released on September 20, 1978 Eh, not the tastiest fruit to fall from the vine. The electricity and saturated sound of their last album is audibly absent, making Tormato feel thin and uninspired by comparison. Over time, good songs emerge, but not since Tales From Topographic Oceans have I had to look this hard to find them. Given the players involved, you wonder, what was the problem? Well, for starters, Rick Wakeman’s keyboard arsenal is less than magical (perhaps some blame belongs to the short-lived Birotron) and Chris Squire’s bass sounds neutered. Thus, the sparkling at the high end and liquid rumbling at the low end are gone, resulting in what sounds to be their most muffled production since Time And A Word (although Tull’s Broadsword And The Beast may be a better analogy). Now, onto the good news: the old magic does reappear (albeit briefly) on “Rejoice,” “Madrigal,” “Release, Release” and “On The Silent Wings of Freedom.” Steve Howe’s guitar gambols nimbly through the arrangements, whether twining itself around Wakeman’s keyboards on “Madrigal” or skipping through “Future Times.” Jon Anderson’s voice sounds blanched some of the time, a problem exacerbated by the dry medium of vinyl, but he remains the glue that holds the band together. As a final curtain call for the fab five, Tormato is a disappointment, sounding at times more like a Jon Anderson record (e.g., Song of Seven) than a Yes album. Even so, “Don’t Kill The Whale” isn’t a proper ambassador for this musical outpost, so fans will eventually get around to owning (and, yes, even enjoying) Tormato. But by no means should this be one of the first five Yes albums you own. TRACK LISTING 1. a. FUTURE TIMES (Yes) 4:05     b. REJOICE (Jon Anderson) 2:41 2. DON'T KILL THE WHALE (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) 3:55 3. MADRIGAL (Jon Anderson/Rick Wakeman) 2:21 4. RELEASE, RELEASE (Jon Anderson/Alan White/Chris Squire) 5:40 5. ARRIVING UFO (Jon Anderson/Steve Howe/Rick Wakeman) 6:02 6. CIRCUS OF HEAVEN (Jon Anderson) 4:28 7. ONWARD (Chris Squire) 4:00 8. ON THE SILENT WINGS OF FREEDOM (Jon Anderson/Chris Squire) 7:45 CREDITS JON ANDERSON -- vocals, 10-string guitar STEVE HOWE -- guitars, mandolin, vocals CHRIS SQUIRE --bass, bass pedals, piano, vocals RICK WAKEMAN -- Birotron, Hammond organ, harpsichord, polymoog, RMI ALAN WHITE -- drums, drum synthesizer, percussion, vibraphone Damion James Anderson -- vocals Andrew Pryce Jackman -- orchestral arrangements Brian Lane -- executive producer Nigel Luby -- recording engineer Geoff Young -- recording engineer Hipgnosis -- sleeve design, photography Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com