Echoes Old turns…
JON ANDERSON
Song Of Seven: Remastered And Expanded ESOTERIC
Yes man’s second solo album remains infectiously joyful.
The happy children’s voices at the beginning of the title track capture the spirit of Prog cover star, Jon Anderson as well as anything else on his second solo album. Few artists express innocence and joy as consistently as he does, and this 1980 work swims in those qualities like dolphins in water. While that title song, the finale, is 11 minutes-plus, much of Song Of Seven consists of uncharacteristically short, compact numbers. Not all of them hit the spot – Anderson tries a couple of R&B or celtic folk angles which belly-flop somewhat – but those which do are so rich with his inner ecstasies that they practically bounce, as if on springs. Whatever it is that allows Anderson to untiringly see the beauty in everything, we could all benefit from a helping of it.