The lead single from Yes’ 22nd album The Quest, set for release on Oct. 1, 2021, represents a touch of the past and a new beginning. “The Ice Bridge” is the first recorded original work from the longest tenured version of the band.
YESterdays contributor Kevin Mulryne has referred to Yes as the world’s greatest progressive rock band. Unfortunately, 2014’s Heaven and Earth, the last album of new music featuring Chris Squire, failed to reach that level. Flash forward to “The Ice Bridge,” which corrects a lot of the issues raised by Heaven and Earth.
Stalwart drummer Alan White provides a lively and nuanced backbeat that melds powerfully with Billy Sherwood. Sherwood, in his first outing as bassist for Yes in the studio (besides his playing on “The More We Live – Let Go,” from 1991’s Union), channels his mentor Squire while providing a flair all his own.
Keyboardist Geoff Downes is also allowed space to spread his wings. On Heaven and Earth, Downes seemed underproduced by Roy Thomas Baker. Here, Downes is in full flight, with an ominous intro keyboard flourish composed in part by Francis Monkman. Downes programmed synth parts and played synths, and many accents are among some of the keyboard wizard’s best work with Yes.
Steve Howe, who produced The Quest, allows the arrangement to breathe while harnessing the best from each player. Howe, in work similar to 1980’s Drama album, provided many overlapping acoustic and electric guitar parts, which seamlessly integrated into the song’s primary musical themes.
Vocalist Jon Davison continues to be a potent weapon for Yes, melding his flawless delivery with socially conscious lyrics about climate change. Davison and Downes also continue to be an effective writing partnership, gluing the three sections of “The Ice Bridge” (“Eyes East”, “Race Against Time” and “Interaction”) together to create one of the most compelling pieces of Yes music in the last 20 years – and a tasty appetizer for Yes’ upcoming new studio effort.
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