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Yes - 2026 - "Aurora" (59:32; Inside Out Music) There was a time when a new Yes album was a cause for great celebration, but I must confess that like many I have become somewhat jaded over the years and there is a large part of me which thinks that Yes without Anderson isn’t really Yes at all, especially with Chris Squire no longer around either. But, although I may not have been a huge fan of the recent albums, I did enjoy Davidson singing when Yes came to NZ twice (when both Squire and White were still there), and thought he was great in Glass Hammer so maybe it was just me? I think, and I could well be wrong as I often am, that this is the first time in nearly 40 years when there has been a line-up which has produced two albums together, and I am sure that has greatly helped in what is easily their most consistent and enjoyable release since 2011’s ‘Fly From Here’. Is it the Yes of the Seventies? No, of course not – none of the bands from that era are the same, either in line-up or musical style, but is it still an album which progheads will enjoy playing? Yes. I am probably not alone in thinking that Downes has always been best when in a group with strong songwriters and when he has been able to dominate then the results have rarely been as good (e.g. pretty much any Asia album not involving Wetton), and it is interesting to note he has had very little input into the writing of this release, with Davison having a much bigger impact as he moves away from being the “stand-in” to recognising he has a genuine part to play. I thought long and hard about what I would rate this album at, and I am sure this is because it has the name “Yes” on the cover as if it was any other band I would have found it much easier, so perhaps the issue is not with the music but with the person listening to it. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat lightweight Yes album, with Schellen and Sherwood clearly demonstrating they are also up to the task, while the ageless Steve Howe still has the delicate touch we have all admired for so very many years. I was worried about this release, so much so that I very nearly didn’t search for it, but I am very glad I did. Progtector: August 2026 Related Links: Yes Inside Out Music