The album originated from a conversation between producer Trevor Horn and YES bassist Chris Squire, who re-discovered the song ‘Fly From Here’ from the ‘Drama’ sessions and realized that it had never been recorded in a studio. “Chris and I were talking one evening about the song ‘Fly From Here’ that we never recorded,” explained Horn. “I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with YES recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse!”
The first recording sessions took place between October 3 – November 12, 2010 at SARM West Coast Studios in Los Angeles, before resuming in the first week of January 2011.
Artist Roger Dean, whose dreamy, other-worldly scenes have adorned many YES album covers, linked up with the band again for ‘Fly From Here’. His design for the cover was a painting he started in 1970 that had remained uncompleted.
In 2018, YES will release a new alternate version, ‘Fly From Here – Return Flight’ completely remixed and remastered by Trevor Horn, with vocals by Trevor throughout.
Personnel
Bass, Vocals
Guitar, Vocals
Percussion
Keyboards
Vocals
Review by Ryan Reed
Review
by Ryan Reed, Paste Magazine, 11 July 2011
The long version: longtime Yes vocalist/songwriter/figurehead Jon Anderson falls ill with respiratory issues, is unable to participate in a 2008 tour, is replaced by Canadian Benoît David, former vocalist for a Yes tribute band named Close to the Edge. Legendary producer Trevor Horn (formerly of The Buggles and Yes’ 1980 album, Drama) is recruited for a new Yes project: Fly From Here, set to revive the epic title track which was written (but never recorded) in the days of Drama. Anderson, who was kept blind from the personnel changes, gets wind, gets pissed, writes a disappointed letter on his website, moves on with his life. The short version: Despite an absolute mountain of bullshit and the nearly certain prospect that Fly From Here, their 20th studio album, would be a laughable disaster, Yes have released their best work since the ‘70s.
First, let’s talk about the new guy. David’s voice is naturally deeper than Anderson’s, but when he chooses to skyrocket into his upper register, like he does in the tender initial moments of “Fly From Here: pt. 1 (We Can Fly),” his history as a Jon Anderson tribute singer is unmistakable. Remarkably, David actually manages to kinda do his own thing with the material. While it’s never quite far from your mind that, at least sentimentally, you’re listening to the next best thing, he avoids the pratfalls of sheer mimicry by letting the material dictate his style. Plus, the dude has an excellent voice all on his own merits, a fact which is evident from those first angelic sighs on “We Can Fly.” Yes diehards who cried foul over Anderson’s less than cordial replacement drama may have a right to gripe, but they should pipe down with the tribute band jokes until they’ve heard what David has to offer in the studio.
“Every day that you waste is one more that you’ve lost,” David sings—a sentiment dutifully heeded by the players. The brilliant title track alone is worth the price of admission. The gorgeous piano overture starts classical in nature and then gets all ‘80s on our asses with chugging distortion and sweeping synth pads. Working its way from the majestic main theme to the futuristic math-funk of “Fly From Here pt. IV (Bumpy Ride),” it somehow all hangs together as one piece.
Honestly, who knows how long the whole Benoit thing will last? With Yes’ constant member shifting and hot/cold dynamics, their liner notes basically read like a prog-rock tabloid. I’m sure a hearty apology from Squire and company, kick-started by an old-fashioned jam session, would be enough to entice Anderson into joining his old pals once more. But if those days are in the past, if this is truly the new face of Yes, the rebirth present on Fly from Here suggests that music will outlive the gossip.
Recommended Versions
Deluxe Collector´s Edition Box Set including Vinyl, CD, DVD & Memorabilia at Amazon
CD at Amazon
MP3 Downloads at iTunes, Google Play, 7 Digital, Microsoft Store
Streaming at Apple Music, Spotify, Rdio, Tidal
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