Relayer

Received Yes Relayer Blu-ray/CD 5.1 2014 Steve Wilson remaster or whatever they are calling it. I listened to Gates of Delirium & Sound Chaser; had 2 leave but will finish later & give Blu-ray a listen, I am sure. Just some background--I saw the 1974-75 performances of Relayer 4 times. Each performance was unique--2 Be Over performed in 1st 2 shows only in 74 & 75. I did not realize at the time how good these shows were. I was still peaved that Bill Bruford left (totally would not have fit on Tales or Relayer) & same for Rick Wakeman's departure after Tales tour & for Relayer recording sessions. Rick would not have fit on Relayer.Now, my thoughts on the new "improved" mix. Gates of Delirium is a great improvement when compared to the 1994 remastered version. All 5 performers are enhanced on this mix from original analog tapes. However, only so much can be done. Chris bass mix was low on original "74 LP, '88 CD & '94 remaster. But, this "Gates" is the best studio version so far. Tape hiss is reduced & high end fidelity is enhanced. I would have liked "maximum bass", but, engineer had his own take on that. Maybe just would not have added to unity of total recording. As for Sound Chaser, a selection that has taken 30 years for me to really appreciate, this version is superior to all previous presentations including aforementioned studio releases & Yes Word Is Live Box Set board recorded version from Oakland '75 (I think was there). The high end certainly is featured & very well "cleaned up". Fidelity & balance of instruments & vocals are bright & well balanced 2gether. Patrick's keys are brought up very good. Steve shines on both "Gates" & "Sound Chaser". Very bright & high infidelity in solos & all around. Overall, great job by Steve Wilson. That's all of my "longwinded", layman's take review.I have read some negative reviews concerning missing "battle sound" effects & not having "maximum bass", etc. These may be legitimate comments. But overall, I was very impressed by the new CD stereo remix in this release of the Blu-ray/CD edition. Don't let a few negative reviews scare you away from purchasing this release. It's enjoyable, exhilarating & gave me "goose bumps".

I have long struggled with Relayer. This is a challenging album that deviates from most of Yes' other work. The album was made at a time when Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever were defining new milestones for innovation and creativity. This album is clearly inspired by that work and takes the searing guitar work featured in the work of McLaughlin and DiMeola and takes it to a different plane of metric complexity, harmonies and voices that were more complex and varied than in Prog Rock domain, and turns the dial up to "11." Keyboardist Patrick Moraz brings a comping and soloing style that are immerse in Jazz fusion sensibilities. Chris Squire and Alan White do their best work grounding all of this metric and harmonic complexity with a symbiosis of their sounds that make it sound like they were tied at the hip throughout the creation and recording process.My prior problem with the original version of this album is that the mix was awful. All of those complex sounds and rhythms all too often sitting at the same place in the mix--it sounded muddy and it was hard to appreciate the individual performances. This amazing mix unleashes all of the beauty of the work that went into this album so that now sounds clean, distinct, balanced. I can really appreciate Steve Howe's multi-tracked guitars and the nuances of Moraz's different synth lines, solos, and (somehow) lusher pads. I now love this album. It stand amongst the best of its time. Really a pinnacle of creativity for an already creative band.

The "Relayer" CD/Blu-Ray has proven, once again, that Steven Wilson is the master at transforming the music into a surround sound feast for the aural senses. "The Gates Of Delirium" was always a difficult listen for me because of the perceived dissonance, which emanated from the original mix, as well as the war theme. After listening to it last night, I've discovered (heard) the contributions from Patrick Moraz as I imagine they were intended initially. There are so many nuances that were lost in the original mix but are now found and have taken their rightful place in the Blu-Ray 5.1 soundscape. "The Gates Of Delirium" opens like a Venus Flytrap and pulls you into the surround environment, holding you captive without smothering you, until you actually find yourself not wanting the track to end. This is the first time I've ever thought that about this track, let alone stated it. "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" clear the smoke, the wounded, and the dying from the battlefield of the first track and afford the listener an opportunity to take in the smooth and joyous melodies of what one traditionally expects from the band. I suppose what surprised me the most is the clarity that resulted from the chaos of the original mix and the intricacy and fire in Steve Howe's guitar contributions on this album. I hope you are able to acquire this new "old" release and add it to your collection, if you haven't already.

Love Steve Wilson, enjoy a lot of his remixes, remasters. This is not good, I've evaluated this for nearly 9 years now and it's never sat right with me, I've had enough.. I need to speak - this has been my fave Yes album for 40 years Vinyl/CD whatever ..take the George Marino remaster and put marshmallows in your ears and this is what you get.Gates of Delirium, all the energy has been sucked out of it, I'm not bothered about the supposed shouts that were taken out in the battle sequence that were apparently "missing from the 24 track master tapes"....so were some of the keyboard "trills" from the start missing as well??? What we get here is an approximation - it's nice warm cuddly, thick, turgid, slow, dull - it's the aural equivalent to quicksand, you give up caring and go under. The early stages of "Gates" sound disconnected, on other versions it works everything melds - on this remaster it sounds like a band tuning up, nothing connects - it's like listening to individual tracks that are yet to be mixed...unfinished and fighting each other rather horrible. On the original Soon jumps out like a beam of light and hope for a new future, on this version it limps out like Tiny Tim if he had been abandoned by Scrooge. Sound Chaser fares little better - all the drive and punch is reduced to gloop. To Be Over yeah it's passable but still sounds hey ho, something is dead here - a spirit has been whisked away.I'm talking about the main album - which should be the main (Stellar) attraction - the additions are cool but jeez please buy it for the incredible experience (or lack of in this case) of what was a real triumph in the face of adversity for the band at the time. Choose to have your jaw drop to the floor or choose to stand in an elevator with another 10 sweaty people listening to this as you wait to reach the level that you can get out and escape.Look it's not a disaster but somethings not right.

How could anyone release this without the effects on the epic title track? A con trick as its not till you read the liner notes that you realise half the sounds in the long battle instrumental have gone and the lazy good for nothings who produced it just left it out and made no effort to replace it. Completely stinks and should never have been released in this state - obviously only interested in the money again. Open your wallets.

Yes have the greatest catalogue of progressive rock music, but Relayer is arguably the pinnacle! Great musicians at the top of their songwriting and composition talents. This Steven Wilson remaster is just awesome. He has a true understanding and appreciation of the nuances of Yes music, as his version of Tales from Topographic Oceans proved - and devotees will just admire the finished article.

To hear a cherished album, for the nth time, that isn't a re-record but is suddenly producing sounds/instruments/harmonies that you never noticed previously ....... is wonderful!!!

Steven Wilson takes 5.1 to a new level!! This is the way Relayer was meant to be heard. Truly a master piece!! Steven Wilson deserves a Grammy for every 5.1 he has remastered. Can't wait to hear "Awaken" in 5.1. Thank you for the outstanding service and arrival time. Highly recommend for any person who appreciates outstanding music.