Yes: Relayer (1974) - Steven Wilson Remix

 

Wrapping up the SW remixes with this amazing album. The only album to feature Patrick Moraz on keyboards, this release finds the band in jazzier, more obtuse territory than ever before. Styled like Close To The Edge (one side-long track followed by two half-side tracks on side two) but it’s musical polar opposite. This music is dark, dense, and weird. Some of the coolest music ever released under the Yes banner. 

This new mix is is gigantic yet crystal clear and I love being able to zone in on Squire’s bass….he’s playing like a demon on this record. Some of the best playing of his career. The entire band is sounding amazing, and that energy is brought to life by this new mix, as well as all of the other remixed albums in this set. 

Unlike the other albums in this set, the Relayer artwork is unchanged from the original.  Just spiffed up a bit. 

I would love if Steven Wilson remixed the rest of the Atlantic albums. Especially Going For The One - “Awaken”, yeah. He could maybe even make Tormato sound good, maybe smooth off some of the edges of the early albums. 

While this may have been one of my most irresponsible record purchases there are zero regrets here. This is everything I hoped it would be and was worth every penny. This entire package, from the box to the sleeves to the mixes to the songs themselves, it has just caused me to love Yes more than ever. 

Anyone on the fence who needs a devil on their shoulder, I’m yer guy.