Yessongs

Yes-freaks might use this footage of the group's 1972 Rainbow concert to plumb the topographic oceans of their consciousness; otherwise it's tedium in extremis. Jon Anderson's lyrics, given the extended arrangements in concert (long and indulgent solos, disjunctive and arbitrary time changes), are exposed as even slighter than on record. His vocals are reminiscent of a lone refugee from the Hollies (okay, if only he had some singles of that standard to trot out). Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, with their respective instrumental prowess, should know better. Wakeman provides the film's only moment of humour, wrenching an atrocious 'Hallelujah Chorus' from his vast synthesiser bank. Howe slips into ragtime (for which he doesn't have the necessary sense of syncopation or off-rhythm) or flashy fingerboard runs at every opportunity. Apart from some Roger Dean graphics and opticals, the visuals are exceedingly murky, flattened by the stage lighting. Sound separation behind the vocals or lead guitar is equally muddy.