Of the three Trevor Rabin involved Yes studio album releases, the third, Talk, is an album in which all parties involved appear to feel was unfairly overlooked compared to the 90125 monster and its successful follow up Big Generator. As the 14th studio album released by this Progressive colossus, it’s often referred to as the ‘great lost Yes album’ and there’s much to discuss on the Talk topic. Sound wise, like the previous two, it possesses the creative imprimatur of Trevor Rabin in its bright and uplifting positivity. Also, in the compositional and production sense it appears to be pretty much Rabin’s musical progeny. Furthermore, his guitar excellence on Talk is an aural adventure. This 30th anniversary release is available as a 2-LP ltd edition white vinyl, an expansive 4CD Deluxe and 1 CD version, opens the conversation and more on Talk’s significance.
Originally released seven years after its predecessor, Big Generator, its seven tracks find Rabin and Anderson’s musical positivity melding into a huge sonic voice. Even though other singers, Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson (whose co-write with Rabin on Walls found its place on Talk) and Kansas’ Steve Walsh were mooted to fill the frontman role when Yes fractured after Big Generator, the makeweight behemoth that became 1991’s Union album and tour reunited this line up once more found together on Talk. The opening four-play of songs The Calling, I Am Waiting, Real Love and State Of Play set out the magnificent melodic soundscape. Walls is an effervescent hybrid of Rabin/Anderson vocals and Where Will You Be’s sonic subtext of African rhythms is a dreamscape of delights. The epic final track, Endless Dream, is a contemplative and joyous movement that reveals the musical harmony of the talents of all the players involved. The joining together of all these musical parts also offers an insight into Rabin’s movie soundtrack career.
As with any recording aiming for all round excellence, the quality of compositions magically competes to raise the standard of the whole rendered by superlative individual musicianship. Ultimately, what the 4CD Deluxe does is unite demos, instrumentals, radio edits plus a superb special version of Talk’s outstanding track, The Calling. Further 4CD audio surprises include an excellent soundboard recording from the New York concert during this Yes iteration’s 77 date world tour. Talk’s selection of live tracks fit harmoniously in a setlist of 90125 and Big Generator songs and cherished older tracks. This concert magically showcases the onstage chemistry of Anderson, Kaye, Rabin, Squire and White as a musical force who successfully changed the sonic direction of this musical entity through its many and continuing line-up changes.
Words by Paul Davies