As he did on the band’s previous studio release, 2021’s The Quest, guitarist Steve Howe produced Yes’ 2023 release, Mirror To The Sky. In fact, one could say that Howe indeed leads (no pun intended) the musical force of his prog supergroup presently, and is pretty much the master architect and a stunning player (as always) across the entire album.
With no original members left, Howe is carrying on the Yes brand with fellow younger Yesmates — keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer Jon Davison, bassist Billy Sherwood, and drummer Jay Schellen, who was hand-picked by his mentor and friend Alan White’s for the band’s 2016–2017 Topographic Drama tour and is now the group’s permanent drummer.
Sherwood’s prominent walking bass guides “Cut From The Stars” as the rest of the band falls in. Elsewhere, “Living Out Their Dream” features Howe sailing down the slide, while the title track is pretty much a tour de force for the guitarist with lots of different moods, a good amount of orchestrated interplay, and wonderful harmonies.
“Circle of Time” comprises a sweet vocal, acoustic guitar, and spare keys, reminiscent of the softer side of what Yes has always been about. If you’re a fan of Howe’s acoustic ability, which is equal to his clean guitar riffing, Mirror To The Sky is a good place to find both.
“Magic Potion,” one of three Howe’s compositions to appear on the album’s bonus disc, finds this incarnation of Yes at its best. Throughout, Howe’s layering of pedal steel, acoustic and electric serves as the album’s high-water mark. As a whole, Mirror To The Sky certainly affords us all a good spinning reflection of where Yes is at this time and place.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
