Yes: Live at Montreux 2003 (DVD)

Some may argue that one of the last things the world needs is another Yes DVD! Well, unfortunately, you need this one too. Recorded in July 2003 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in front of 4,000 fans, Yes Live at Montreux trumps the Songs from Tsongas DVD in every way: better performance, better set list than that of the ambitious but rickety 35th Anniversary Tour and no tacky inflatable stage props to render unintentional laughter.

There's no need to get into a detailed analysis of each song. You know them all and they are performed very well. Once the band launch into "Siberian Khatru", it's impossible to stop watching. While Yes' stage presence perhaps isn't as animated as it once was, Steve Howe goes nuts on most of these old warhorses. The cameras are largely focused on him and the man is still a wonder to watch.

There are innumerable highlights here: "Heart of the Sunrise" kills and the call and response jam between Howe and Rick Wakeman at the end of "South Side of the Sky" is a real corker. "Don't Kill the Whale" from the wrongly maligned Tormato album is given a new lease on life and works up some serious energy early in the show.

Nearly two hours later, we are treated to an awe inspiring "Awaken" and without question, this the best version currently available on home video. Forget about the House of Blues, forget about Keys to Ascension and forget about the admirable but cluttered Union tour version. This is the real deal. If you aren't choked up during the climactic passage as Wakeman's church organ comes crashing in, well…you just can't be human!

"And You and I" is a can't fail live favorite and as always, it delivers the emotional goods. Rick Wakeman's solo spotlight is always entertaining and the traditional "Excerpts from Six Wives of Henry VIIII" is altered to include a few surprises. The encores may be predictable but both "I've Seen All Good People" and "Roundabout" lighten the mood after the emotionally draining "Awaken".

Really, the whole band shines but my vote for MVP would go to Steve Howe. Chris Squire isn't given nearly the amount of camerawork that he deserves and Alan White is mostly photographed from behind the kit, but for what little one sees of them, they sound terrific. Jon Anderson is still Jon Anderson and whatever one makes of his cosmic shtick, the man can still sing.

The video and audio quality of Yes: Live at Montreux 2003 is excellent. There are three audio options to choose from: PCM stereo, 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS. The High Definition video is equally impressive. As with most of the Live in Montreux series, there are no bonus features to speak of, but the booklet contains a nice essay from Classic Rock's Dave Ling. While the Yes Symphonic DVD is marginally preferable-we're only talking degrees here-, Yes: Live at Montreux 2003 is the best visual document currently available of the classic lineup. So fork over another $15 for yet another Yes DVD and pray that we haven't seen these legends on stage for the last time.

Track Listing

1. Siberian Khatru
2. Magnification
3. Don't Kill the Whale
4. In the Presence of
5. We Have Heaven
6. South Side of the Sky
7. And You and I
8. To Be Over
9. Clap
10. Show Me
11. Rick Wakeman Solo Medley
12. Heart of the Sunrise
13. Long Distance Runaround
14. The Fish
15. Awaken
16. I've Seen All Good People
17. Roundabout

Added: June 26th 2007
Reviewer: Steve Pettengill
Score:
Related Link: YesWorld: The Yes On Line Service
Hits: 5481
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]