JON ANDERSON & THE BAND GEEKS : TRUE

 

  1. True Messenger
  2. Shine On
  3. Counties And Countries
  4. Build Me An Ocean
  5. Still A Friend
  6. Make It Right
  7. Realization Part Two
  8. Once Upon A Dream
  9. Thank God

Label : Frontiers Music SRL

Release Date : August 23, 2024

Length : 58:17

Review (ProgWereld) : Het werd ook wel een beetje tijd: het laatste soloalbum van de legendarische ex-Yes-zanger Jon Anderson “1000 Hands, Chapter one” dateert alweer uit 2019 . Recente YouTube-video’s met zijn begeleidingsgroep The Band Geeks beloofden echter veel. Zelden zag ik bijvoorbeeld een zo perfecte en opzwepende versie van The Gates of Delirium. Hoge verwachtingen dus bij de aankondiging van het nieuwe studio album “True” van deze bijzondere combinatie. Zeker in vergelijking met de matige producten die Yes/Steve Howe in recente jaren aan het trouwe publiek voorschotelden. Het optreden dat Anderson met behulp van de Paul Green Rock Academy gaf, vorig jaar in Zoetermeer, betekende een mooie opmaat. Ik schreef destijds al dat ik dacht dat Anderson in een setting met een echte rockband het beste tot zijn recht zou komen et voilà. Na samenwerkingen met onder andere Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Rick Wakeman en Roine Stolt dus nu The Band Geeks als muzikale partner(s). Niet zomaar een gelegenheidsbandje: de heren spelen al jaren in min of meer dezelfde samenstelling als professionele YouTube- en coverband, terwijl bassist/componist/muzikaal leider Castellano permanent lid is van Blue Öyster Cult, ook al zo’n legendarische jaren 70 band. “True” herbergt negen nieuwe nummers, een klein uur muziek, inclusief een tweetal langere nummers, waarbij vooral het ruim zestien minuten durende Once Upon A Dream een poging doet de epische nummers van weleer naar de kroon te steken. Opener True Messenger knalt er al direct in, de uit duizenden herkenbare stem van Anderson ondersteund door een compact rockende begeleiding, had zo van Anderson Wakeman Bruford & Howe (AWBH) kunnen zijn. “You are everyone, you are me” zingt Anderson, begeleid door een Steve Howe-achtige gitaarpartij, maar even later is het weer Trevor Rabin die de snaren beroert. In werkelijkheid is het supertalent Andy Graziano die zijn visitekaartje afgeeft. Shine On is al bekend, want al enige tijd op YouTube te beluisteren en bewondering oogstend. Progpop van de bovenste plank, een pakkend refrein en een stevig rockende band in de trant van “90125”. Het door Anderson in zijn eentje gepende Counties And Countries is een echt hoogtepunt. Klokkend op circa tien minuten start het met een heerlijke instrumentale introductie met gitaar en toetsen. Rabin-periode klanken worden gemengd met een tikje “ The Ladder”,een aanstekelijke combinatie. In het rustige middenstuk kan Anderson vocaal schitteren, waarna een knappe (slide) gitaarsolo van Graziano wordt afgewisseld met krachtig Hammond-spel van Robert Kipp, met dank aan Tony Kay. En wat te denken van de razende toetsensolo van Chris Clark, rechtstreeks uit het boekje van ene Richard Wakeman. Geweldig nummer. Build Me An Ocean zorgt voor een noodzakelijk rustpuntje na al dat geweld, een relatief korte ballade, categorie Wonderous Stories, prachtige vocale harmonieën, piano en akoestische gitaarklanken. Er is niets mis met een goed stukje progpop, Still A Friend is daar een goed voorbeeld van. Redelijk rechttoe rechtaan, maar met behoorlijk afwijkende ritmes en hoofdrollen voor drummer Andy Ascolese en met name bassist Richie Castellano; de geest van Chris Squire is altijd dichtbij.

Review (De Nieuwe Plaat) : De inmiddels bijna 80-jarige Jon Anderson weet van geen ophouden. De onmiskenbare zanger van de fameuze progressive rockband Yes heeft na gelukte en mislukte Yes herenigingen, met voormalige en nieuwe bandleden, nu een soort Yes-cover band gevonden, genaamd The Band Geeks. Anderson is deze band op het spoor gekomen door hun live uitvoering van één van hoogtepunten uit het oeuvre van Yes: Heart of the Sunrise. Hetgeen Jon deed besluiten The Band Geeks, aangevoerd door Richie Castellano (ook bassist in Blue Öyster Cult), te strikken voor een samenwerking. De samenwerking heeft allereerst geresulteerd in een tour in 2023 waar veel oude nummers uit de Yes-historie worden gespeeld. En ook tot de creatie van materiaal voor een nieuw album met muziek die je heel erg moet laten terugverlangen naar de virtuoze, caleidoscopische muziek van Yes uit de jaren zeventig. Of zoals Anderson het zelf verwoordt: “True is een album dat Yes zou hebben gemaakt als de band nog bij elkaar was geweest.” Toegegeven, Anderson doet erg zijn best op True. Met niet aflatende energie en zijn vanzelfsprekende hoog klinkende alt tenor stem gaat hij voortvarend van start in de eerste twee relatief korte nummers True Messenger en Shine On. De kenmerkende tempowisselingen, strakke ritmesecties, keyboard toonladdertjes en snerpende gitaren klinken weliswaar vertrouwd maar ook onrustig. Alsof Anderson teveel van zijn statement al wil bewijzen in te korte tijd. Het lijkt echt wat meer op het oude Yes in het Counties and Countries, een bijna 10 minuten durende track met ruimte tijd voor een heerlijke gitaarsolo aan het einde van het nummer. En datzelfde geldt voor het hoogtepunt van het album Once Upon A Dream. Een mini-opera (16 minuten) op zich, met een magistraal akoestisch middenstuk waar Anderson’s unieke stem volledig tot zijn recht komt. Een stem die overigens mierzoete en voornamelijk positieve gospel-achtige teksten oplepelt die met het verder beluisteren van het album behoorlijk gaan tegenstaan. Wat te denken van “Thank God, you’re here. Thank God, I’m home. Thank God, you’re in my life. We love to walk in the nature of things together again, you and I” uit het laatste nummer Thank God. Dan waren de onbegrijpelijke teksten van het originele Yes toch beter te behappen. Het overige materiaal laat horen dat dit album geen match is voor met name de muziek uit de begintijd van Yes. De unieke combinatie van rock, jazz, en klassiek indertijd, met naast Jon Anderson bandleden als keyboardvirtuoos Rick Wakeman, gitarist Steve Howe, basgitarist Chris Squire en drummer Bill Bruford (later vervangen door Alan White) leverde klassiekers op als Roundabout, Siberian Khatru, I’ve Seen All Good People. En albums met fantastisch artwork en titels als Tales from Topographic Oceans. Niet voor niets werd Yes in 2017 toegelaten tot de Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Die erkenning zou genoeg moeten zijn geweest voor Jon Anderson om samen met The Band Geeks de muziek te coveren die tot die toelating hebben geleid. In plaats van met nieuw materiaal een overwegend mislukte poging te wagen de originele Yes sound te laten herleven.

Review (The Prog Report) : It’s almost 20 years to the month when Jon Anderson played his last show as a member of Yes. Perhaps it’s that “release” from a formal band structure that has led to the wide ranging solo path he has taken since then. His discography shows two “full” solo albums (2011’s Survival and Other Stories – consisting of songs finished up from ideas submitted from a variety of people – and 1000 Hands: Chapter One – the completion of an album started 30 years earlier) since then. There have also been a large number of one off releases, ranging from the 20 minute epic Open to an atypical political rant called “Go Screw Yourself”! Of course there were also collaborations with some unknown as well as better known artists (Anderson/ Wakeman, Anderson Ponty Band, Anderson Rabin Wakeman, Yes featuring ARW etc) but I think it’s fair to say that none of those added a substantial, great album to his discography. The Band Geeks, led by Richie Castellano was initially a podcast lineup, and they became an online band producing a series of cover versions, sometimes supplemented by special guests. A full cover version of the Close To The Edge album, as well as 1990s Rabin era favorite The Calling, demonstrated they had the Yes-chops to tour as Anderson’s backing band playing the most complex YesMusic. Now, as the 2024 JA / BG tour comes to a close, we, perhaps surprisingly, get a brand-new studio album. I say “perhaps surprisingly” because interviews with Jon would suggest many projects begin but few end (Chagall … Zamran … 1000 Hands Part 2 etc). He also hinted in previous interviews that while solo albums of the past have deliberately avoided potential Yes territory, in this case he placed no such restrictions on the creative process. So now we have a full album ready to roll and, as a YesGeek, I’m excited to hear what this ‘True’ holds… “True Messenger” starts the album with picked 12-string guitar and some strong multitracked vocals. As instruments join, it’s a classic Rickenbacker/ Squire and some vintage Hammond organ along with stacked multitracked vocals. What’s clear is that this music is energetic, intricate and … well, it sounds like YesMusic. I’ll explain what I mean by that: this sounds like a band working together to contribute to the vision of music that Jon has. That’s different from say, “Survival…” which was Jon adding his aspects to other people’s music. The closing sections of “True Messenger” manage to capture elements of classic prog / modern prog and … well even past Yes glories and blend it into something new. It’s an exciting track to kick things off with, with lots of shifts and complexity to let the listener know what they can expect ahead. In that context, it made total sense to have “Shine On” as the album’s first single. The choral vocal intro breaks into a section which could be out of any 1990s/2000s Anderson Yes album, with a nice addition some excellent percussion. I keep finding my mind moving to The Ladder – to me that album has always been a great combination of taking the elements of YesMusic Past, adding some fresh aspects, but not pushing it too far out of the comfort zone. That’s probably the closest sonic comparison for True. “Counties and Countries” starts with an epic and triumphant instrumental intro. There seems to be a real synergy between Anderson and the Band Geeks members. I should say that Jon Anderson is sounding strong on this album. The ARW live recording shows how as the years progressed so his vocals have retained their range, if sounding understandably a bit softer and gentler than the past. The production and mixing here are such that his voice is the centerpiece of the album, in, say, the ending of this track: “You’ve got a beautiful day today”. The frantic Moog solo and the ending of this almost 10-minute epic are just superb! The next track, “Build Me An Ocean,” takes a twist into the territory of a piano-led balance. A beautiful song, with nylon and steel string guitars (including a fantastic solo), the Band Geeks add amazing choral harmonies and counterpoints. It’s a breather before we jump to the energetic “Still A Friend.” These two songs have very positive affirming lyrics, and while they are still in Anderson-style, it’s accessible! “Make It Right” continues the journey, and is a massive vocal showcase. I feel parallels to Turn of the Century in places, such as the slow build-up, how the guitar enters (and even its tone). I understand that Realization is Part Two of the preceding track and is a fun acoustic song with lots of percussion. Jon really sounds like he’s enjoying himself on this one! The penultimate track is the 17-minute epic “Once Upon A Dream” – and it’s here we go full-on prog! All the stops are out and it’s a great one! Drawing comparisons to the Yes catalogue I’d once again mention the sound and energy of The Ladder, with the light and shade of the very best of the Keys To Ascension studio tracks. Lyrically we’re in mystical Jon territory with even some sly nods to past Yes song titles, as well as some musical linkages in various guitar and keys tones, and even some finger cymbals in the mid-section that are very Awaken-like. At this point I should give a shout out to the individual musicians involved in this album. I suppose there is a danger that in the presence of a prog legend like Jon, the musicians end up being anonymous. If that was the case it would be a gross disservice because, compared to the previously mentioned Survival and 100 Hands, the Band Geeks sound like a fully integrated and operational actual band. Richie Castellano stands out as a versatile musician, excelling on both bass and guitar, with a style that effortlessly blends technical skill and creative flair – oh, and he also plays keyboards and sings on top of co-writing a lot of the material. In him, Anderson has found a foil who can harness exactly what Jon is aiming for… and more – his contributions are integral, adding depth and complexity to the band’s sound. Andy Ascolese, the band’s drummer, provides a powerful rhythmic foundation, his dynamic drumming propelling the music with precision and energy. Meanwhile, Andy Graziano takes many of the lead guitar passages – his style is original but yet more than just a copy of. Robert Kipp, on the Hammond organ, brings a classic Yes Album, soulful element to the mix, which compliments Christopher Clark who adds layers of keyboard textures – together they enhance the band’s sound with a modern yet timeless atmosphere. When you mix all of this together, you get a cohesive and vibrant sonic experience that bridges the past and the future. Does it sound like the band we know and love? Yes! Back to “Once Upon A Dream” – it’s got a spectacular ending with all of the players getting their chance to shine. In my opinion this song has a very strong possibility of ending up in my 2024 Top 10 prog tracks and I believe it would work incredibly well in a live context! It’s understandable that a close of album gear-shift is what’s needed after that extravaganza, and what we get is a beautiful ballad / tribute from Jon to his wife Janee! The song “Thank God” is a simple thank you to his partner. We know that Jon has had various medical issues already mentioned and his tribute is: “Thank God I’m here, thank God I’m home, thank God you’re in my life”! The Band Geeks pitch the backing perfectly – orchestral and subtle is just what’s needed, yet playing is powerful. When this album was announced, I have to admit to being a bit nervous. Sure The Band Geeks credentials were unquestionable and they shown they could play great Yes covers… but that didn’t necessarily guarantee a great album! However, the combination exceeded my expectations by quite some way. I know fans of Olias will immediately flame me, but I’m going to say this is quite simply the best (and my favorite) Jon Anderson solo album! Maybe that comparison is poor because it is a band album. Either way, who cares – the album places everything we love about Jon into a musical collaboration with musicians who are in sympathy and understand just what is needed. To me, the whole “is it / is it not Yes?” question is totally spurious when you are handed an album like this from a legend like Anderson. ‘True” is a brilliant album from one of the most important voices in Prog history and only further cements his legendary status as one of Prog’s ‘True’ pioneers.

Review (Echoes & Dust) : Jon Anderson has proven himself to be no fluke. He has given a chance on discovering who he really is by going through massive voyages to bring peace and joy around the world and spread spirituality in his music. With The Band Geeks as his backing band, it seems like a perfect combination by proving himself that he’s more than just a founder from one of the most influential progressive rock bands with Yes. That and their latest album True, released on the Frontiers Music label, is an exploring wonder to go through the various landscapes that go beyond the prog circuit. It takes a lot of clues and mysteries to see what Anderson has left in store for us. He has also shown that he hasn’t forgotten his roots. The Band Geeks launched back ten years ago by guitarist Richie Castellano. Originally as an audio-only podcast, Richie morphed the process into a YouTube band, which considered a group of his friends, special guests, and collectively known as The Band Geeks. They covered songs ranging from classic rock to pop, and featuring songs from one of Richie’s favourite bands Yes. And this got the attention from founder Jon Anderson which led them to do a tour in the States last year playing Yes classics that fans know and love. Listening to the True album is like going through an old book, which had collected dust for a long, long time, opening up, and seeing the images coming to life in all of its glory, knowing that Anderson still has that mighty voice he once had. Not just with Yes, but during his Olias of Sunhillow years, collaboration with Vangelis, and his appearance on King Crimson’s unsung 1970 masterpiece Lizard on the closing 23-minute title-track. The storyteller itself, still has that spark of electrical energy inside his heart. When ‘True Messenger’ begins, it starts off with a mountain-climbing acoustic guitar that is taking us to the highest peak and watch the sun, rising across the horizon, knowing that a brand-new day is about to begin. “You are everyone / You are me / You are everyone / You are free”. What a lyric. Anderson sets up this epic score the band to get their instruments up-and-running to continue to be a part of the adventure that’s waiting for them. The music then changes into an African-tribal arrangement that has an ‘80s powder-keg waiting to go off and delving into the 90125-era. I felt some of the beats coming at you in a nanosecond as if they’re hitting, you’re stomach with a hardcore punch, nonstop. And then, the train goes in full speed with an unexpected waltz-like theme. Geeks really upped their game by surprising their listeners with cards pulling up their sleeves. ‘Shine On’ is a train-driven ride with a bass-chugging texture Richie puts the beats into the blender, followed by Ascolese’s intensive patterns while the signatures go into insane measurement with arppegiated guitar licks, blaring Hammond organ sounds, fanfare keyboards to make it very epic-like, militant drum sounds, and the spiritual voyage between ‘Counties and Countries.’ After the first three tracks, the band take a breather to spread more joy across the lands with a beautiful piano arrangement, flamenco guitars, and acoustic wings spreading to fly like there’s no tomorrow throughout ‘Build Me An Ocean.’ And then with ‘Still a Friend’, they return to their electrical equipment with an Italian concerto approach, which the keyboards speak a bit of Premiata Forneria Marconi’s ‘Celebration’ for a brief moment. Once we get to the 16-minute epic ‘Once Upon a Dream’, it goes successfully well. Striking string sections from the keyboard, Morse code textures, nods to Time and a Word-era, continuing where ‘Astral Traveller’ had left off from the Peter Banks-era, middle-eastern approach, and elements of Fragile and Tales from Topographic Oceans combined as one. Jon has brought all of the source material to the forefront. True is a sophisticated release Anderson and the Band Geeks have unfolded for 2024. No wonder that this album is a strength of beauty like a flower that’s ready to bloom, in front of your very eyes. And the big picture, we got to witness it all.