Relayer by Yes is a Sonic Explosion! | Sound Chaser and To Be Over REACTION/ANALYSIS | Episode 373 

Alan White is always unfairly compared to Bruford. But this album really solidified him as being the right drummer for Yes in the direction they were moving. He may not have the same diverse body of work as Bruford (who the hell does?), but he is an incredible drummer and drum part song writer, which are 2 different skills. He deserves immense credit for his contribution to Yes for the last 40+ years.

There is no band like Yes, takes me to a different level every time I listen to them.

These albums always leave the fist-time listener stunned, confused, even repelled on occasion. But the more you listen to it and begin to learn and anticipate portions, it just gets better and better. Today I consider it one of the greatest pieces ever. Relayer is indeed my favorite YES album.

1974, what a year for prog Genesis: The Lamb Lies... King Crimson: Red Yes: Relayer

Patrick Moraz. His presence created Yes' one album that could be categorised as fusion. The Swiss jazz keyboard wunderkind took Yes away from the more classical influence of Rick Wakeman and helped create a unique suite of challenging prog-jazz. Thanks for your reaction to Sound Chaser it was classic, "all to know and see the look in your eyes".

Your timing is perfect. Today is Steve Howe's 75th birthday.

"I'm never been this harmonically confused" - just hysterical !! "Maybe a drink will help" - also hysterical! But your reactions are totally understandable and I agree whole heatedly.

I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and one day my older brother brought home Time and a Word by Yes, and that album kept playing in my head for a long time. It was just different than any other music I heard. What I so appreciated about it is how you can use rock instruments to perform something more than what they were meant to be, or what has been done with them. So, I asked my brother to please bring home more Yes albums. Next thing I know I'm listening to CTTE, TFTO and Relayer. I was transferred to a different universe. While Salsa and Disco were playing on the radio I was sitting under our stereo system with my headphones on listening to Yes' majestic music. My friends couldn't understand my obsession with it. I'm forever grateful to Yes for going beyond the boundaries of rock n' roll!

At 62, I’m beginning to appreciate what a weird teenager I was, listening to my Yes albums over and over and over, and thinking nothing was unusual about what I was hearing. 😂

My favorite Yes album, still sounds otherworldly even after almost 50 years,

The very end of 'To Be Over' is one of my favorite few minutes of music I've ever heard. It's simply stunning emotionally.

Relayer is a masterpiece

When I saw Yes play live in '75 or '76 (I forget, haha), it was the Relayer tour. Anaheim Stadium, CA. Place was packed. Yes kicked off their set with "Sound Chaser." No compromise. They played for three hours. I lost my mind. "To Be Over" was sublime. "The Gates of Delirium" was incredible, especially the "Soon" ending. A night I will never forget. Also a night of music that will never be matched, for me.

I have to share this tale with "y'all": When I first bought the Relayer CD back in 1994, when Soundchaser begun, I took the CD out the player, carefully put in on the case, took it back to the shop, and told the shop guy: "The 2nd track is skipping". He played it for 30 seconds, nodded in agreement, and gave me another copy... When I got home again I realized that was indeed the music. That's how alien this music was for me then. Today it sounds natural and fluid...

The bemusement on your face during ‘sound chaser’ was delightful. The weird thing is that as you listen to it more and more it all begins to hang together to the point where your anticipation of each new section drives even greater enjoyment and sets you up beautifully for ‘to be over’ which is simply beautiful and enveloping.

I go back to the beautiful spring day when I was a kid that I listened to these two tunes. Beautiful and crisp beyond words. Both never get old. Steve Howe in his prime.

The TFTO & Relayer period was arguably their most imaginative & adventurous. I can't imagine Relayer existing without them having gone through the TFTO phase. At the time they were right into Mahavishnu Orchestra & Return to Forever so the inclusion of classically trained Swiss jazz/fusion keyboardist Patrick Moraz was just the tonic they needed to create something so intense, so adventurous, yet so Yes. Sound Chaser they consider their most technically challenging piece, it's like prog meets jazz/fusion on steroids, a unique Yes masterwork. And To be over is just pure dreamlike serenity, absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for all your great Yes reactions Doug, these Relayer ones were extra special, cheers

It's so amazing to watch someone who knows his music hear this music for the first time. I've been listening to this for more than 45 years and it brings tears to my eyes to hear it again thru Doug's ears for the 1st time again.

To be Over is my favourite song in the world. The ending with that sort of vocal counter harmony is just gold. Truly a beautiful song. I find myself feeling that it is a breakup song, there is a sadness and hope to it.

The delay on Steve’s attack is done using a volume pedal. They are extremely effective. Fun fact: Relayer is the only album he played all the songs on his Fender Telecaster using the twangy bridge pick up so loved by Country players for decades. Sound Chaser is unique too because after the first two verses it never returns to that melody. The chord progression in the song is insane. Changes key constantly. To Be Over ending is vocalisation for the listener decides what they hear. Everyone hears something different.

I look at John Anderson's lyrics as Spiritual Poems. They paint an abstract picture in my mind.

As with Tales from Topographic Oceans, this is an album for mature and sophisticated ears. When I was 14 listening to this album, I didn't get it, I hated not loving my favorite band's music. As I became a musician, I'd revisit it and come to find the masterpiece that it is. I would practice endlessly to cover it on bass. It made me a better bass player. Knowing this album deeply now has refined my ears further. I'm 57 now and will listen to the album when I have time to devote all my energies to listening. This isn't music for the car or the beach. It's music for the sole appreciation for music.

That Guitar Solo to Soundchaser is INCREDIBLE!!!

Relayer is perhaps my favorite Yes album. I think Moraz takes them in directions that they would not have otherwise gone. Also White really comes out of Bruford's shadow and makes the job his own. just wonderful

Relayer is the best Yes album in my opinion. This album has 3 masterpieces.

Steve Howe's solo in To be Over sends shivers down my spine every time I listen to it .... and sometimes it makes me cry because of the beauty of the song...

That's the reaction anyone has to Sound Chaser the first time. It's a punch to the face. Just amazing.

I'm 63 years old. I'm lucky enough to have found all this music when it was new. Man, I can't tell you how much this music meant to me.

Doug, the look on your face when Sound Chaser finished is pure gold. Love it.

Went to see them on the Relayer tour. They were the first big band I saw live and they absolutely blew me away.. They performed all three tracks, but what was very impressive was how they could reproduce all their studio sounds live on stage. A truly brilliant band of musicians at the very top of their game.

Steve's solo on "To be Over" is reminiscent of his brilliant solo from "Perpetual Change" off the live Yessongs 1973 triple album which you need to add to your list to get into. This album is mind blowing with to my mind, definitive most of their best songs from this era. The most definitive live "Gates of Delirium" and "Ritual" (TFTO Side 4) have to be from Yes Symphonic 2001 recordings. The cohesion is amazing and all band members are on fire, you mustn't miss these performances. They will leave you in awe ... guaranteed!

That guitar break by Steve in 'Sound chaser' is like "So you're chasing sounds, eh? Well, chase this!"

This album is simply unique!!! A singular formation with Patrick Moraz that never happened again. A once in a lifetime piece of music that was miles ahead of their time.

Hey Doug! If possible I think you should try to reach out to Jon Anderson for an interview. He’s been on Rick Beato’s channel and I think he’d be happy to talk to you.

I'm glad to have had this music in my life for so many years. I am now glad that Doug has it in his.

This was a once in a lifetime masterpiece. Moraz no doubt sent Yes on a journey with his incredible gift.

I bought this Album when it came out…but I was already a true Yes fan, then… Relayer…it just blew my mind!!! From beginning to End, and on Vinyl !! It was pure musical heaven…in the war of Gates!! Side two…a Band Completely in Control!! Through the emotional End!!

Always wished that Patrick did more with YES. A very fine keyboardist.🎹😎

This was by far my favorite reaction you’ve ever done. I laughed out loud at the look on your face at the end of Sound Chaser. I love this band. Their music holds up so well. I’ve listened to this album countless times, yet you made it sound like my first time. Well done!!!

Jon's voice is simply an instrument. Words are just articulations. Jon's ambiguity is deliberate. Make of it what you will.

Every Yes album is a masterpiece, Relayer being their seventh. And to think these guys probably weren't even 30 yet.

"I don't know any other band like this", exactly no other band where the level of composition, originality and musicianship of each individual member is cosmic. The best ever.

This album, arguably, is the one album that had the greatest impact on me and what I knew was possible musically. Never forget, 2009, after I graduated Highschool. I had decent taste before then, but that album really got my prog bone itching.

Eclectic, unusual and challenging share of Moraz in the YES universe. It is admirable how Squire, Howe Anderson and White fit together perfectly with this jazz avant garde rock proposal.

The jazz rock fusion is obvious. I also like the classical aspect of Sound Chaser, which never gets mentioned. The cacophony aspect of the song reminds me of Zappa.

This for me was one of the slowest-burning albums ever. It took years to reveal its splendour. Not everyone's glass of tea f'sure but if you like the unexpected and prefer mystery-over-certainty and you are veeeery patient, then this album always pays dividends. A true Sonic masterpiece.

Just beautiful, brings tears to my eyes, Doug. As they say, Jon Anderson came from another planet but cares so deeply for this one. To Be Over

Relayer is also my favorite Yes album, but any person's preference will depend on what flavor of Yes they like. To me, Relayer is the album where they pushed themselves the farthest and hardest. They tried to limit some of their more accessible, pop-like tendencies in favor of hanging with the more challenging prog (and fusion) bands like King Crimson and electric-era Miles Davis, and I think they succeeded on their own terms. To me, what makes a song like To Be Over (or the "Soon" section of Gates) so effective is in large part that they come at the end of such grueling, intellectually demanding music: the oasis is all the more soothing when you've trudged 40 days and 40 nights through the desert! This isn't to say that Fragile and Close to the Edge (and even the much more accessible, and commercially successful, Yes Album) aren't masterpieces as well, but they "go down" much easier than Relayer. Relayer is the album that almost sounds incoherent and even (at times) downright sonically unpleasant at first, but the more you listen to it the more sense it makes, and the deeper it gets.

Thanks Doug! Relayer is an album similar to Close to the Edge, consisting of three songs: a conceptual big song, an aggressive song, and a peaceful song. Unlike Close to the Edge, however, the album closes with a peaceful masterpiece called To be Over, which leaves a pleasant aftertaste after listening to it. Personally, I consider it a highly complete album!

The keyboard solo on Soundchaser is fantastic!

Crazy they played this live, too.

Possibly my favorite album of all time,wish Patrick Moraz had done more with Yes,he brought a more jazzy element to the band,Steve Howe`s playing is fantastic on this album

Doug always has the best facial reactions to Yes music. This is similiar to his reaction to Close to the Edge.

YES! This is the moment I've been waiting for ever since I saw your first Yes reaction! Can't wait to see how you'll react to Sound Chaser!

Really looking forward to this one. 'To Be Over' is their most emotionally moving song to me.

Yes, nice reaction. My favorite is Close to the Edge, my second favorite album is Relayer. Thx 😃

The delayed attack you mention , is Steve using a volume pedal. Playing a note or chord with the volume down then swelling it in.

Although Close To The Edge is regarded as their masterpiece, I feel that RELAYER has held up as the better work over the years. An amazing piece of music. There are a few moments that I feel don't work all that well, but 99% of it is truly astonishing. There is no other band like pre-1980 YES.

Favourite album from my favourite band. Happy that you experienced this!

Patrick Moraz is such a fantastic composer and player, his albums ‘the story of i’ and ‘out in the sun’ are so different but both wonderful and two of my most favourite albums of all time. Saw him live once with the Moody Blues, great memories.

America is the Yes track that got me hooked as well. In my opinion, it is the best cover of any song. Yes stretched, expanded, and totally rewrote a brilliant song and made it even better.

There is an old video of "Beginnings" with Steve, and Patrick playing a Duet. A Baroque Masterpiece written by Steve. "To Be Over" is Gorgeous. Love This Album #1 Band Of All Time.

This is one of my favorite albums of all times. In brings me to the edge of metaphysical boundaries much like Mahler’s greatest symphonies. Why I will always admire Yes’s pushing the envelop in musical talent and development beyond their original progressive rock forms.

Ha ha, the look on your face during the fist part of Sound Chaser is no different to anyone else hearing it for the first time. Relayer is my personal favourite Yes album. A sonic masterpiece in my view.

"Sound Chaser" probably is my fav song. Period. It is truly a masterpiece.

Hey y’all…i set my reminder. Wouldn’t miss this one for anything. Cha-cha-cha………cha…cha…

Relayer. That was the album that began my appreciation of not just prog, but *all*music. Someone lent me the album and on first listening, it was a bewildering cacophony of notes, and just a crazy experience. But I listened to it again, and I recognised some of the various themes which weave though the songs. Eventually it stopped being a cacophony, and became melodic. Challenging in places, but totally enjoyable. I owe a lot to that album. I’m looking forward to this Doug! Have at it.

I was about 14 when I first heard this album. My mates at school had been trying to move me on musically through the school year. To no avail. Then someone lent me this album. I took it home and one night after dinner, donned my headphones and plugged them into my parents music system in the living room. They were there watching tv. I was having my mind expanded. When I first heard Anderson’s vocals come in, I think I actually swore out loud. Going For The One had just been released and that was next on my listening list. I’ve never looked back. To this day, Relayer is my favourite YES album. Great reaction again Doug. This is a mind blowing album.

Can I suggest you focus more on the various themes in these tunes than what key they are in .. especially in To Be Over, it's almost in a sonata allegro form - main theme/exposition, development, and recapitulation at the end. The way they interweave the various melodies around each other is sheer brilliance!

Hi Doug, thank you! Truly lovely you shared these songs with the community you're building and engaging. At 16 Yes found me, and spoke to me deeply. So many Yes fans have similar experiences. You mentioned not understanding the lyrics. They are not just filler of the music, by far. Jon is incredibly spiritual from a young age. Sound is a metaphor in this song, meaning "unified manifesting spirit", or the spiritual experience of all happenings in the universe. As the singular and full unity of God is never in movement itself, the manifesting spirit of God in the universe is, and of it we are a part. In this song, the narrator, or Jon, IS the "sound chaser," the chaser of the manifesting spirit of God, to know God THROUGH the movement of self, life, music, all forms of God manifesting. It's a beautiful song of the seeker, to find God within self, other, and the world, being challenged by the varied pace of earthly life, the patience of the spirit, and the accelerating pace of one's own hopes to reunify with the divine more fully. Blessings and love to all. First verse: Faster moment spent spread tales of change within the sound Counting form through rhythm electric freedom moves to counterbalance Stars expound our conscience all to know and see the look in your eyes Faster moment spent = Rushed Spread tales of change = Diverse earthly life Within the sound = Within a universe as manifesting spirit Counting form through rhythm = In the paced dream of earth life Electric freedom moves to counter-balance = By grace of God we move and are balanced Stars expound our conscience = Our very being emanates from the stars All to know = And by knowing self And see the look in your eyes = We see God within So: Rushed, diverse earthly life within a universe as manifesting spirit In the paced dream of earth life by grace of God we move and are balanced Our very being emanates from the stars and by knowing self we see God within Second verse: Passing time will reach as nature relays to set the scene New encounters spark a true fruition Guiding lines we touch them Our bodies balance out the waves as we accelerate our days to the look in your eyes Passing time = Time's dance Will reach as nature = Arising from us Relays to set the scene = Lets us experience each other and the world New encounters spark = And new experiences ignite A true fruition = The fullness of life Guiding lines = What essence pulls us towards unity We touch them = We engage with daily Our bodies balance out the waves = Yet we remain grounded to form As we accelerate our days = But still accelerate each lifetime To the look in your eyes = To merge with God So: Time's dance arising from us lets us experience each other and the world And new experiences ignite the fullness of life What essence pulls us towards unity we engage with daily Yet we remain grounded to form but still accelerate each lifetime to merge with God Bridge: From the moment I reached out to hold I felt a sound And what touches our soul slowly moves as touch rebounds And to know that tempo will continue lost in trance of dances as rhythm takes another turn As is my want, I only reach to look in your eyes From the moment I reached out to hold = When I looked for my true nature I felt a sound = I could hear the manifesting universal spirit And what touches our soul slowly moves = And this spirit is patient As touch rebounds = As it is always allowing and open to us as we are And to know that tempo will continue = And the knowing of this spirit Lost in trance of dances = Even when captivated by earthly life As rhythm takes another turn = Which is ever shifting As is my want = But my only want I only reach = And my only practice To look in your eyes = Is to find God within So: When I looked for my true nature I could hear the manifesting universal spirit And this spirit is patient as it is always allowing and open to us as we are And the knowing of this spirit, even when captivated by earthly life, which is ever shifting But my only want, and my only practice is to find God within

First time caller Doug. I listen to your YES reactions. I'm 70 and have been with them all this time. When interviewed (and don't we all want to know, oh swami, Jon)...WHAT DO YOUR LYRICS MEAN!! He gave me a wonderful freedom when he said "whatever you want them to mean". To Be Over is Howe's favorite song and rightly so. It's beautiful. When I heard it (under the right influence I suppose) everything "connected" for me. I was in the right time and space. I was carried away by angels in the middle of the song toward heaven (I actually "thought" I was dying but I was so happy to go because at the end, Jon says, hey, be ready, you are going to be loved. I guess we all have a part in everything or we wouldn't be here. What would be the point. So when you hear it for the first time, it's overwhelming especially if you listen to the entire album. You go through hell on side one, but you get lifted up at the end and then side 2 is the end all. Sound Chaser, really, is just loosening up the mind, our thoughts, we don't know where to go. Like you said, it's chaos. But in To Be Over, everything is calm all of a sudden and Jon says let my words and this music balance your thoughts, they are releasing in you and off I went...to the heavens. YES has had their ups and downs and over 30 members in and out of the band over time. Last thought, To Be Over did not make for a live performance, way to difficult. They tried, but it just got weird. I think it was when you reacted to the Tales Side 1 saying it had 5 pauses and it was obvious you were totally into it because you never paused, you couldn't wait to keep going. Good for you. Then at the end you said you were speechless. BUT a few moments later, the music and lyrics had entered your mind and soul and you came up with some profound wisdom (without really realizing it). That's kind of what the music does for me. Every listen, new thoughts...glorious. Cheers.

Doug, this album was released in 1974. I had just graduated from high school. Yes was my favorite band and I listened to this thousands of times. To me and my buds, this was just music. I had no idea of the complexity and thought that went into it so it's amazing to hear your analysis. I know this album like I know my own skin so the chord progressions are beyond me. It's just my music of my youth. To me, it's just Yes in all their glory. I love them so much. I got to meet Jon backstage at one of his solo tours recently and that was a boyhood dream. Love your channel.

Can't wait, two amazing songs to go with the greatest prog rock song of all time on side one!

My first ever concert was YES in '75. The Relayer Tour. Amazing show.

I knew what was coming, and still I love watching your face as the music overtakes you. You appreciate it, and wonder at it, and allow it inside you, and are a little changed by it. 😁

Steve Howe is truly a master with the volume pedal, like Hendrix with the wah.

I think the lyrics in Sound Chaser are about how they enjoy blowing up our minds!!

Initially wasn’t my favorite Yes album but definitely grew on me over time.

Decades on and this still moves me so much. Thank you Doug and thank you Yes. Relayer another great master piece.

I have listened to To Be Over 1000 or more times and it gives me chills EVERY time in that middle section. EVERY time. 30+ years, different stages of life, different situations, different places.

I recall the day this album was released I bought it and just happened to pick up a new pair of headphones, electrostatic new design by Sennheiser, I sat and listened to the album all night on my new headphones, mega sound and what an experience with electrostatic headphones.

Relayer is a masterpiece.

I love your interpretations of Jon’s lyrics. You actually brought me to tears with awaken and with to be over as well.

My favorite band since 76. I can't even count how many times I've seen them live. The last time was their 50-year reunion! Jon once said that the sound of a word is more important than the meaning of it.

You could think of the album as a four movement symphony (treating 'Soon' from Gates as the second movement). It follows the classic pattern of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th movements from Classical and Romantic periods.

These two songs are masterpieces but as different as chalk and cheese. Sound chaser is a whirlwind of sound so many different genre references are hidden within it which you hear on the second to tenth listen. Seeing you trying to look for common threads and normal the hooks to be able reference what was happening and predict what is coming was great. Of course Jazz fusion is right up front and it is best to treat Jon's voice as another instrument or sound within the mix. But after nearly 50 years this song fits together very comfortability. Love time changes in it. The last change is so well done you hardy notice it. This song does break a few rules but it sounds so amazing. To be over is a Yes classic that Yes sound and style such a great way to set you at peace after Gates and Sound Chaser. I also like the fusion theme between east and west in this song too. To be over is one of my favorite Yes songs. Many thanks for reviewing Yes, Relayer side 2. Great music by the best band ever.

In an interview years ago Patrick Moraz stated that his time as a member of Yes was the hardest music school he ever attended. I can well imagine, sir.

In this album everything is well done. The cover art is a masterpiece of Roger Dean. It's a powerful visual introduction to this amazing travel to the heart of prog-rock at it best level ever seen. "Relayer" is a rare gem. Those old good times...

My favorite Yes album. I have a 24X36 litho signed by Roger and the band centerstage in the living room. The tour for Relayer was unforgettable. Saw them in Atlanta at The Omni. Just mind blowing. And the SW 5.1 mix opens it up spectacularly! ETA: I forgot to mention the Mini-Moog solo. *Dayum*

I want to thank you for the EXPERT insight that you bring to these reaction videos. As a subscriber, I feel like I'm a part of something culturally relevant! I was raised with classical music in my home (though I am FAR from a conneseur of it), and have been a guitarist for around 50 years. My own compositions (at times) reflect a classical "bent" in a much more rock oriented context, and your insights into some of my long-time favorites like Yes, ELP and Gentle Giant validates my tastes in music over many decades.... Cheers!!

Relayer is my favourite album ever by any band ever….perfection.

You can really tell this was indeed a first listen for Doug. He talked right over one of the most iconic synth solos in the history of prog rock! Patrick Moraz exerted such an influence on this album!

Funny thing about Relayer. You wont know it but when you look at the physical disk (album) you see a lot of blank space like there is plenty of room on the record for one or two more songs but, after hearing the album you dont see it as where is more. Its very intense. I can see how a lot of folks see it as their very best album. Its maybe the most unique album in their catalog. Patrick, before joining Yes, had a couple nice albums (out of the sun) and (i). Both worth a listen if you like Relayer

For years after it originally came out, I didn't 'get' Relayer at all. I only liked To Be Over (in my defence, I was young). Then one day it just clicked; and now it's probably my favourite Yes album.

To be over is a masterpiece

I am a huge Yes Fan and like Tony this is my favorite Yes Album, if Close to the Edge defines Prog, Relayer defines Yes!

Saw this live by Yes in Miami as a teen after it had just come out. Awesome and performed as complex as it is to a T. Spot On. We sat stunned. Thank You for sharing! 63 now and still they Rock like no other with sounds as you say . . . that break new ground.

You should feature Yes Symphonic Live version of The Ritual. Its incredible.

Sound Chaser was the band showing off their awesome skills at music composition at the expense of the listener's perception of musical cohesiveness.

Yes, that was a pedal steel guitar you heard Steve Howe playing in "To Be Over." It's also a huge part of the songs "And You and I" and "Going for the One." You might not always recognize it as pedal steel, because he has lots of non-traditional ideas of what to do with it. But he must love playing it, because every time I've seen Yes (6-8 times?) Steve always has it as a prominent part of his gear, and if any album has pedal steel on it, he plays it in concert, making it central to his performance in the moment, playing with what seem to be flourishes in places. I think a lot of people think some or all of his pedal steel in "And You and I" is keyboards. At the end of "And You and I" on the "Yessongs" live album, he slowly slides up an octave on his pedal steel to close the song: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PbS56p4Xt4I.html. He did that on the Relayer tour as well.