There was a freedom evident in the songs on Yes’ The Ladder. Perhaps part of that was due to their freedom from record-company and management pressures to fit a certain mode.
The infusion of new energy and ideas from Billy Sherwood and Igor Khoroshev also added a spirit which is hard to replicate. “The Messenger” reflects all this, and more.
The song’s reggae-meets-progressive rock feel is infectious. Musically, Chris Squire’s bass, with its echo effects, tangles with Alan White’s high hat and snare. The Yes rhythm section makes this complex beat sound deceptively easy and natural.
Jon Anderson’s lyrics are uplifting and joyous. A tribute to Bob Marley by a venerable British prog band seems like an unusual flight of fancy, but Anderson’s narrative is witty, earnest and vivid.
Steve Howe’s introductory acoustic guitar and Billy Sherwood’s rhythm work add to the magic. Additionally, the enhanced Yes choir has never sounded better, as Sherwood’s backing arrangement ideas are fully incorporated into the band’s sound.
Add into the mix the multi-tracked guitar and synthesizes solo section, and you have another often-overlooked stellar Yes deep cut.
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