------------------------------------------------------- NOVEMBER 5, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: The Guardian (U.K.) http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,,1343450,00.html Yes Acoustic (Classic Pictures) By Sarah Dempster Turning their kaftaned backs on a lifetime of ferocious sonic complexity, Yes Acoustic finds progressive rock daftery in an atypically contemplative mood; their creative restlessness channelled into a riches-to- rags set of acoustically rendered classics. The result? 65 minutes of shimmering, mellifluous loveliness, with beautiful, bare-backed versions of Your Move, Long Distance Runaround and Roundabout suggesting that when it's not too busy showing off, prog rock can extract tears from a stone. No less surprising is the DVD's attendant amusement factor. There is skiffle and sniggering during the sound check. There is Jon Anderson's hotpot-thick Lancashire brogue ("that one was fer Gladys an' Tom in Sacramentaw "), bassist Chris Squire's remarkable polo-neck (purple, like a haemorrhoid) and guitarist Steve Howe's resemblance to the library ghost out of Ghostbusters, only sad, like he couldn't find the latest one by Martin Amis and had to make do with a Terry Pratchett instead. Best of all, however, is the realisation that even when stripped of proggish embellishments their heavenly hubbub can make the music of men half their age sound like whispers in a morgue. Yes? Absolutely. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com