Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Jeffrey Crecelius and Ken Fuller
This week we welcomed the ever-generous Geoff Downes onto the show. It was great to speak to the current Yes keyboard wizard about the new DBA album, Celestial Songs, as well as the recent John Wetton tribute concert and, of course, Tales from Topographic Oceans. Geoff also hinted at what’s being planned for the forthcoming The Classic Tales Of Yes Tour so listen out for that! It’s always a treat to talk to Geoff who reiterates the fact that he is and has always been a Yes fan himself.
Who is on the new DBA album?
What’s Geoff’s approach to DBA?
What’s going to be performed on the next Yes tour?
Let us know if you agree with us!
My previous DBA albums and my copy of Barney Ashton-Bullock’s book, ‘Bucolicism’, poems from which were used on Halcyon HymnsThe new DBA V album – Celestial Songs
Our (not really) new Facebook YMP Discussion Group is open to anyone to join but I’ll be adding rules and joining requirements when I have time (one day…). One of the advantages of the new format is that all members of the group have the same ability to post content, so it’s a bit more egalitarian, or somesuch. Please do search for the group and join in.
If you are still listening to the podcast on the website, please consider subscribing so you don’t risk missing anything:
Theme music
The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from: archive.org
Produced by Jeffrey Crecelius, Wayne Hall, Preston Frazier and Bill Govier
The original title!
It was a delight to welcome Yes and DBA keyboardist Geoff Downes back onto the show this week. Mark and I speak to him about his excellent new DBA album, Halcyon Hymns as well as a couple of aspects of what’s coming up for Yes in 2021, specifically the rumours around the new album and the possibilities of touring. So listen out for that conversation.
How does the new DBA album compare to the previous one?
Is it prog?
What are Yes really doing in 2021?
Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!
Join us as a Patron!
If you would like to support the Yes Music Podcast financially and also have access to exclusive activity and opportunities, there is a special page you can use to sign up and 2020 is the time to join us:
The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from the following two creative commons sources: thanvannispen and archive.org
This is going to be a really long episode so maybe you should listen in a few parts.
There are several really important pieces of news about releases, some audio contributions, a special 2 pence about Arc of Life and a wonderful interview with Julie from the Rabin-esque blog about Trevor Rabin’s movie score-writing career and The Glimmer Man which was the first thing he did after leaving Yes in 1995.
Wow. So unfortunately I will need to postpone the full round up of social webs until next week. Incidentally if you’ve ever wondered how to see the community posts on the YMP Facebook page, you just need to click on the community tab towards the top of the page. There’s lots on there to enjoy and, as I say, I’ll get back to all that next week.
Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the release of ARC OF LIFE’s self-titled debut album on February 12, 2021. Arc Of Life is a new progressive rock supergroup featuring three members of the current YES line-up, vocalist/guitarist Jon Davison, bassist/vocalist Billy Sherwood, and additional drummer Jay Schellen, one of the most interesting talents in the “new” progressive rock scene in the US, Dave Kerzner (Sound of Contact) on keyboards, and Jimmy Haun (also featured on YES albums in the past) on guitar. Fans can get their first taste of the band’s forthcoming debut with the new single and video, ‘You Make It Real’. Watch HERE:https://youtu.be/_84UCEDeEkc
The concept behind Arc of Life is, in keeping with the progressive rock philosophy, to craft creative, challenging, and ear-pleasing music that pushes boundaries.
Billy Sherwood describes the music as, “interesting, with well-crafted songs, performed with precision and grace. All songs feature memorable melodies and lyrics that take the listener on a sonic adventure. Dynamic arrangements with peaks and valleys… it’s all there.”
The other idea behind the band is that YES would be a clear point of influence. But while YES is clearly the main point of comparison, a lot of musical similarities can be drawn to describe Arc Of Life’s grandiose and epic approach to music.
In Jon Davison’s words, “Each YES member understands and supports when others may desire to explore and thrive along new artistic avenues. We then each find further inspiration to bring back to the YES fold.”
But all the descriptions are best left to the listeners to discern for themselves as repeat listens will reveal more layers.
Arc Of Life is a true garden of delight for progressive rock fans and the band is looking forward to performing live. “Once the world gets over the COVID hump, Arc Of Life will be planning as much touring as we can fit in between YES and our other projects. Quite honestly, we’re all chomping at the bit to be out performing again!” concludes Jon Davison.
Tracklist:
1. Life Has A Way 2. Talking With Siri 3. You Make It Real 4. Until Further Notice 5. The Magic Of It All 6. Just In Sight 7. I Want To Know You Better 8. Locked Down 9. Therefore We Are 10. The End Game
Line-up:
Billy Sherwood – Bass and vocals Jon Davison – Vocals Jay Schellen – Drums Jimmy Haun – Guitars Dave Kerzner – Keyboards
What is Trevor Rabin’s film music like?
What do we need to listen to?
What do Arc Of Life sound like?
Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!
Join us as a Patron!
If you would like to support the Yes Music Podcast financially and also have access to exclusive activity and opportunities, there is a special page you can use to sign up and 2020 is the time to join us:
Downes Braide Association (DBA) have announced the release of their new album Halcyon Hymns. The CD/DVD is out on 5th February 2021, and 2LP White Vinyl edition on 26th March 2021.
Halcyon Hymns will be the fifth DBA collaboration and follows their previous critically-acclaimed studio albums Pictures of You (2012), Suburban Ghosts (2015) and Skyscraper Souls (2017). The duo have also released Live In England (2019) recorded at their first ever concert at Trading Boundaries, East Sussex, in 2018.
“Marc Almond suggested I ‘get stuck into another DBA record’ to lift the malaise,” say Braide. “Somehow It was hard to muster any enthusiasm for it. We had all been so upbeat at the recent shows and now here we were in a collective, creative void. It’s odd the way inspiration strikes though and it never ceases to delight and surprise me when the muse comes to play and it can happen at any time and without warning.
“I opened up a folder of new DBA ideas Geoff (Downes) had sent to me a while back and which I’d listened to briefly and had made a note to do something with them at a later date. I can’t say why it happened but one day in the studio as I listened to the bits and pieces of ideas suddenly the songs started tumbling out as if by magic. I’m not exaggerating or being melodramatic. These new songs sounded like personal reflections, they just wrote themselves. It was so easy, so enjoyable and so meant to be. Like a gift.”
A few words from Geoff: “It was so great to witness Chris’s creativity making my fundamental ideas come alive. He took the bare bones of melodies, harmonies and textures I sent him, and somehow crafted these into something way beyond my expectations or imagination. ‘Love Among The Ruins’ is one of the many examples on the album of his rare genius at work.”
Love Among The Ruins is a delightful and uplifting love song, reflecting memories and tributes of a long lost halcyon time in life. The first track to be taken from the new album, Love Among The Ruins, is out today 4th December.
Halcyon Hymns also features contributions by Marc Almond (ex-Soft Cell) and David Longdon (Big Big Train).
The CD/DVD package also includes video footage of legendary artist Roger Dean’s painting sessions as he creates the album cover artwork for Halcyon Days together with lyric videos for three tracks from the album.
Halcyon Hymns track listing:
Disc 1
01. Love Among The Ruins
02. King Of the Sunset
03. Your Heart Will Find The Way
04. Holding The Heavens
05. Beachcombers
06. Warm Summer Sun
07. Today
08. Hymn To Darkness
09. She’ll Be Riding Horses
10. Late Summer
11. Remembrance
12. Epilogue
Disc 2: DVD
01. Roger dean Painting Sessions
02. Love Among The Ruins
03. Your Heart Will Find A Way
04. Today
YMP Patrons:
Producers:
Jeffrey Crecelius
Preston Frazier
Bill Govier and
Wayne Hall
Patrons:
Aaron Steelman
Dave Owen
Mark James Lang
Paul Tomei
Joost Maglev
David Heyden
Martin Kjellberg
Paul Wilson
Bob Martilotta
Lind
Michael O’Connor
William Hayes
Brian Sullivan
David Pannell
Miguel Falcão
Lobate Scarp
Chris Bandini
David Watkinson
Neal Kaforey
Rachel Hadaway
Craig Estenes
Dem
Paul Hailes
Mark ‘Zarkol’ Baggs
Doug Curran
Robert Nasir
Fergus Cubbage
Scott Colombo
Fred Barringer
Scott Smith
Geoff Bailie
Simon Barrow
Geoffrey Mason
Stephen Lambe
Guy R DeRome
Steve Dill
Henrik Antonsson
Steve Perry
Hogne Bø Pettersen
Steve Rode
IanNB
Steve Scott
Jamie McQuinn
Steven Roehr
Ken Fuller
Terence Sadler
Michael Handerhan
Tim Stannard
Jim
Todd Dudley
John Cowan
Tony Handley
John Holden
Joseph Cottrell
John Parry
Keith Hoisington
John Thomson
Barry Gorsky
Alan Begg
Robert and David
Please subscribe!
If you are still listening to the podcast on the website, please consider subscribing so you don’t risk missing anything:
The music I use is the last movement of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. This has been used as introduction music at many Yes concerts. My theme music is not take from a live concert – I put it together from the following two creative commons sources: thanvannispen and archive.org
Produced by Jeffrey Crecelius, Michel Arsenault, Wayne Hall, Preston Frazier and Bill Govier.
We managed to speak to Geoff Downes about his other new release – The Downes Braide Association’s DBA3 – Skyscraper Souls. Mark and I go into a lot of detail about the album and then ask Geoff some questions about its construction and influences.
There’s also time for a rather mischievous Yes and ARW 2 pence so something for everyone, we hope!
Is this DBA album a continuation of or a revolution from the last?
Did Geoff ever meet any of the contributors?
What is the writing process like?
Chris Braide and Geoff Downes
Listen to the episode then let us know what you think!
Win a copy of the new Downes Braide Association album, ‘Suburban Ghosts’!
So what’s the Downes Braide Association album like? I take a careful listen to ‘Suburban Ghosts’ and then disclose the winners of the competition to win one of two copies!
Is this stuck in the 80s?
Is it prog?
Is it any good?
Listen to the episode and then let me know what you think!
