In "Relayer", Yes took the occasionally-brilliant bloated bulk of "Topographic Oceans", distilled out its best aspects, added a jazz keyboardist to replace the more classical Wakeman, and cranked it to 11. It's their most experimental album, and in my opinion, their most successful one.

The 22-minute "Gates of Delerium" is one of their most coherent epics, creating in song and sound the tale of a war between two armies that feel forced to fight. Listen to this on a pair of good headphones, and by the time the 'Soon' segment floats in, if you aren't wiping your eyes, you're simply inhuman.

It's followed by "Sound Chaser", Yes at its edgiest, with a guitar solo that's the closest prog-rock ever got to straight-ahead rock n' roll.

The closer, "To Be Over", is my personal favorite Yes song. It has every classic Yes moment in one six-minute masterpiece: dreamy fantasy lyrics, a rocking guitar solo, thumping bass, an ear-ticking keyboard run, and lots of slide guitar. It's the Yes song that sounds most like a Roger Dean album cover.

Intense, harsh, ethereal, voluminous and ruggedly symphonic, Yes' _Relayer_ is arguably their most dark, experimental, grandiose and aggressive. _Close To The Edge_ was positive, peaceful and reflective. _Tales From Topographic Oceans_ was spiritually (and/or religiously) deep. However, on _Relayer_, Yes gets bleak, harsh and ominous--attributes that are rare in the positive, hopeful, celestial and peaceful world of Yes.

The 22-minute war tale known as "The Gates Of Delirium", is a gargantuan slice of mystical progressive rock. In atmosphere, this epic features screaming synths, manic guitar solos and overall explosive volatility. Steve Howe's claustrophobic, finger-itching and hasty-paced guitar solos qualify him as nothing less than a virtuoso. Jon Anderson's vocals are ethereal, heartfelt and moving. Later, Steve Howe and Chris Squire (bass) play something of an ionian scale before the violent, stormy and powerful instrumental middle section takes off. This is followed by the achingly beautiful "Soon, oh soon" section. The sad and poignant synthesizer backdrops provided by Patrick Moraz, set the stage for Jon Anderson's most poignant, ethereal and shiver-sending performance. His very last sung line (The sun will lead us, our reason to be here) makes my soul cry. After that, the epic sadly fades into oblivion.

"Sound Chaser" is a manic, frenzied and aggressive jazz-fusion number, which features enough technical mastery to give classic King Crimson a run for their money. Alan White's drumming is ultra-technical and violent. He plays as if there were no tomorrow. Steve Howe's guitar parts are fluid and virtuosic. The middle section features an extended guitar solo. Steve also seems to slip a portion of "Mood For A Day" (off of _Fragile_) on here as well. Chris Squire's snaky basslines sandwiched in the crazed mix are something to behold as well.

"To Be Over" is the mellow closer of the album. It features country-esque soundscapes (courtesy of Steve Howe's pedal steel), an instrumental section featuring many eerie sounds seeping from Patrick Moraz's keyboards, and a finale of chant-like vocal harmonies.

_Relayer_ is Yes hitting on all cylinders: Violence, intensity, aggression, gloom, despair, ethereality, love, hope (and maybe triumph). The complexity here may take some getting used to. But, in the end, _Relayer_ is a trip worth taking.

After a lukewarm reception to "TALES FROM TOPOGRPHIC OCEANS" master keyboardist Rick Wakeman decided he'd had enough and jumped ship. The other Yes men replaced him with Swiss maestro Patrick Moraz, who injected fresh ideas and enthusiasm into the tired band. The result was one of the most unique albums of their long career. "RELAYER" has a hard, stainless steel sheen to its sound. The 23 minute epic "The Gates Of Delirium" is like nothing else created in popular music. It starts with soft, twittering melodies and then moves with uneasy, mounting menace into hard driving drums and bass. Steve Howe punctuates the proceedings with spiky, fiery and unpredictable guitar playing. Then, "Delirium" explodes into an orgasmic peak that concludes with the "Soon" segment, arguably the most beautiful of all Yes moments with soaring keyboards and slide guitar. The remaining two tracks are an interesting contrast. "Sound Chaser" is a very heavy jazz/prog rock blend, iced by Steve Howe's most violent ever guitar solo. The album concludes with the gentle "To Be Over", which is a real breather. Not everyone's favourite Yes album but I guarantee it will grow on you.

Hearing this album for the first time, and double-checking the CD case to see that it's still Yes, is like a little glimpse of the Twilight Zone. We've never heard lyrics like "slay them burn their children's laughter on to hell" from Jon Anderson before (or since), not to mention such sheer violent force from Steve Howe's guitar or such insane pounding from Alan White. Listen to "Gates of Delirium" through headphones with eyes closed and you can see the battle played out in your mind. We go through aggression, anger, doubt, conflict, frenzy, and an earth-shaking climax of sorts that leads into, if not a happy resolution, then a somewhat peaceful one. Even in the sublime outro, there's a tinge of doubt and uncertainty: it remains not completely resolved, as it should.

And that's just the first track. "Sound Chaser" has some more frenzied guitar from Howe, along with the most free-jazz soloing you'll hear on a Yes album. I could live without the "cha-cha-cha"s, but otherwise it's nine minutes of brilliance that leaves you wanting more. "To Be Over" - ah, here's that happy ending. Almost a lullaby, it's encouraging and peaceful without the lingering doubt that runs through "Gates." All the trademark Yes qualities you'd thought they abandoned on this album, all the joy and positive melodies, they're found here. Relayer is the love-it-or-hate-it Yes album that splits most of the fans down the middle. Different though it may be, it's undeniably a masterpiece.

I first listened to Relayer about six years ago and it took me some time to really get into it and appreciate the adventurious music that Yes created on Relayer. Yes' music has always been bold and larger than life...Relayer is a fine example of that.

Relayer is a rather amazing album. Gates Of Delirium is like a 22 minute rollercoaster ride...imagine that one! Filled with endless loops, corkscrews, twists, turns, and gigantic hills and valleys that eventually comes to a soothing conclusion. It is one serious wild ride for ones audio senses. Guitarist Steve Howe and bassist Chris Squire are truely at their best here.

Sound Chaser is one of Yes' most bizzare compositions. The music is harsh, experimental and on the edge. To Be Over is another exciting song. Starting off very mellow then it slowly builds up to a exciting end by Steve Howe's diverse guitar work and Jon Anderson's soaring vocals which make this song one of Yes's finest.

Keyboardist Patrick Moraz brings a very unique and distinct sound to this album, his one and only as a member of Yes. Relayer is considered to be among Yes's finest, while it's not my personal favorite it is a remarkable album.