Yes : Aurora

I had to do a double take when I saw that there was a brand new Yes album out in the year of our Lord 2026. Yes, the prog rock Grandfathers that started -along with Genesis, King Crimson, Soft Machine- prog rock.Yes came out of the late 60s British rock scene to show those pesky British Invasion rockers a thing or two. Album side songs, concept albums about dwarves, wizards, and space travel, as well as the advent of the synth solo.

Yes were at the forefront of the prog rock movement. After a few highly regarded albums the band imploded a bit and OG members left for synth albums and wizard capes. But in the 80s the band returned and had some success in the neon decade. “Owner of A Lonely Heart”, anyone?

In 2026 we still have a very thin version of Yes existing and making records. Original guitarist Steve Howe is keeping the band alive(he looked like an elder wizard in the 70s, in 2026 I imagine more so a raisin.) Along with Jon Anderson clone Jon Davidson doing a hell of a job mimicking the original singer’s angelic soprano vocal delivery, we have synth player Geoff Downes who’s been with Steve Howe since the early 80s.

The band has released Aurora, following their last album, 2023s Mirror to the Sky. What do you get with Aurora? Well, a plastic-y replication of the band’s early 70s heyday. Everyone performs well, but at this point just listen to The Yes Album, Fragile, or Close To The Edge if you want primo Yes.

Aurora treats us to an hour of Steve Howe chasing musical ghosts and sometimes catching up to them. Album opener “Aurora” nearly captures the Anderson heydays, but the drums and bass lack that Squire/Bruford rhythm section muscle. Bassist Billy Sherwood and drummer Jay Schellen are a thin facsimile of what was before. Maybe it’s over-produced and less the players.

“Turnaround Situation”, “Countermovement” and “All Hands On Deck” capture the fire of the rock band side of Yes, complete with big riffs and time signature shifts. Where as “Outside the Box” and “Emotional Intelligence” gives us the folksy ballads the band like the sprinkle throughout albums.

Aurora sees Yes still trying to do it nearly 60 years on. It’s hit and miss. A for effort, but I’d still rather spin Fragile. But that’s just me.