Yes show their lighter side

Yes frontman Jon Davison has responded to criticism from some quarters about the band’s latest album Heaven & Earth.

And he says fans should put their expectations to one side and enjoy a “lighter shade” of Yes.

Davison tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “You have to go where the creativity takes you. At this stage in the game, they want to ease back into some almost relaxing music. I don’t mean to sound like everyone’s dull by any means because that’s not it at all. The music’s probably been interpreted that way.

“It’s just a phase in their lives where it’s kind of an easy-listening record. It just kind of warms over you if you let it. It’s a lighter shade of Yes.”

He continues: “If people put expectation aside, I think eventually over time more people will ease into it – a lot of people already are.”

The singer took over from Benoit David in 2012 and toured with the band before recording Heaven & Earth, an album Yes veteran Chris Squire refers to as a “new chapter” in the band’s history.

Yes are currently on tour across the US and are incorporating the whole of Fragile and Close To The Edge into their set. But Davison says he doesn’t feel any pressure to perform these Yes classics.

He says: “You’re never going to measure up to that and we don’t necessarily want to because it would be forced if we tried.”

Following their US tour, Yes head to Australia and New Zealand, before travelling to Japan for five dates in November.

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.