The show starts with Anderson and Howe doing a medley of Yes classics (Time and a Word, Owner of a Lonely Heart) with a short glimpse of Teakbois as well. Then it’s time for a couple of Howe’s solo numbers and a Wakeman solo medley. The real party only gets started for Long Distance Runaround, where the whole band joins in for the first time. Bruford's unremarkable drum solo (a mixture of electronic and standard percussion) soon follows. Birthright again marks the return of the whole band. The first really big moment happens when And You and I begins. They continue in this spirit with All Good People and of course the epic Close to the Edge. All three pieces are performed really well and present the majesty of Yes at their best.
The second disc begins with a live representation of the ABWH studio album, where3 tracks are played. The ABWH seems the most natural of the bunch when played live because they were recorded on 80s equipment, while most of the Yes tracks played here weren’t. Bruford and Tony Levin also play an extended improvisation after Themes, which shows how well the two functioned as a rhythm section. The final section of the live set was of course reserved for three more classic era Yes pieces – Heart of the Sunrise Roundabout and Starship Trooper. The encore belongs to yet another ABWH piece, Order of the Universe (the order of tracks on the back insert isn’t the same as on the actual CD), where Wakeman goes a bit overboard with the pointless soloing for a rather bland finish to an otherwise enjoyable set.
The bonus DVD shows some behind the scenes footage, taken by Julian Colbeck. Some scenes depict Jon Anderson’s birthday celebration, while others show the band just having a laugh, relaxing before the show. The DVD also shows some footage of the actual show as well, though the individual clips are very short.
This combo gives a nice look into the live repertoire and the high standard of musicianship these guys were capable of. They often venture into instrumental excursions not present on the studio albums. These improvisations are a mixed bag – sometimes they come up with the goods, while sometimes they leave you unsatisfied. The three additional band members, Milton McDonald on guitar, Tony Levin on bass and Julian Colbeck on keyboards fit in nicely with the rest of the band, with Levin’s bass lines proving to be particularly intriguing. The sound is very good for a live album as well. The only real complaint I have is Bill Bruford’s electronic drum kit and Wakeman’s occasional cheesy synths.
If you consider the ABWH album a good achievement, this live album will undoubtedly be a necessary addition to your collection. A very solid live album with solid to exceptional playing. It does sound a bit too 80s sometimes, especially the drums and synths, but it was the 80s!
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