------------------------------------------------------- APRIL 6, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Ground and Sky Prog Reviews http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php/?rev=ja-ae Jon Anderson: Angels Embrace By Joe It's got a nifty, simple gold cover, implying that for once we might be getting something of substance. Sadly, this primarily instrumental album from the Yes vocalist is basically among the lite 'n' fluffy, Care Bears progeny begat by Wendy Carlos' Sonic Seasonings. That is to say, it's the veritable stereotype of the New Age section at your local record store, sated with nature sounds that are peeeaceful... sooothing... spirrrrituuuual. Aren't you irritated already? To be fair, Angels Embrace is not as bad as I remember it being the first time I listened to it several years ago. I'd take it over some of the other rogues in the solo Anderson gallery, like The Promise Ring, Earth Mother Earth, and The More You Know (actually, I think I'd take a 24-hour Gilbert Godfried marathon over The More You Know). The music is harmless enough: typically bright vocals from Jon and family, and the cotton candy synthesizers of "New Eire Land" building and dissolving away, all wispy and sweet. So, it's hard to get all that worked up in annoyance. Still, I find myself largely holding back the urge to cackle at most of this. Maybe it's the babbling brook and the birds twittering away? The wind chimes? The (Oh Lord) pan pipes amidst the roar of the ocean? In the wake of Sonic Seasonings, this kind of musical animal has been declawed, neutered, and whirled around by its tail in so many ways as you have imagination to lend. Did it really need another whirl in 1995? Don't think so. If you're one of the Anderson hardcore, no doubt you've probably got this already, readily enjoy it, and thus shall I gladly piss off. For the rest of you interested in Yes or Jon Anderson who have not heard it and are entertaining the thought, I would strongly urge investment of your attention elsewhere. I say this because I would bet there's a hearty contingent of fans out there that would find this to be pure patchouli pablum. For Yes trivia buffs: "Prayersong" is a reasonable English adaptation of what the Cambodian poem of "Angkor Wat" on Yes' Union actually says. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com