L atterday Yes bassist and Prog Collective mainman Billy Sherwood has approached this latest multi-artist excursion with relish. Todd Rundgren, Steve Hillage, Derek Sherinian and Steve Hackett are just some of the musicians who crop up on Worlds On Hold – albeit on the seven cover versions, rather than the six original compositions featured here.
Anyone familiar with Sherwood’s work will hear hints of his assorted other bands and projects. Anything But Goodbye features both Jon Davison and Patrick Moraz, and while Brave New World has Sonja Kristina handling some of the lead vocals, the pitching and phrasing is remarkably Jon Andersonesque in places.
Covering classics Solsbury Hill, Nights In White Satin and AWhiter Shade Of Pale may be of interest to some, but does raise the question of whether Sherwood’s time couldn’t have been better spent on new material.