Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a soft spot for "Tormato" because that tour was the first time I saw them live and it was a big big event for me. But the album itself was kinda lame.

I have a soft spot for "Union" because an acquaintance of mine has a credit on that album.

As far as being a fan nowadays I'm not and everything post-Tormato has struck me as an attempt at keeping a band together that maybe should have just died the second time Rick Wakeman bailed on them. The Trevor Rabin stuff was pretty good in its way I suppose but it wasn't really "Yes."

That said I do have "Song of Tsongas" on my birthday/Xmas/whatever list.

I'm glad Tormato was recorded if only for On The Silent Wings Of Freedom, which I love. I can't say I actually dislike anything off the album, although I could do without Circus Of Heaven.

Technically, Wakeman is back in the band, and has been since right after "Magnification" was released. Despite how great Wakeman is, some of their best albums ("The Yes Album", "Relayer", "Drama", "The Ladder", etc.) were recorded without him. Just a thought . . .

The thing about "Tormato" is really that it could've been awesome, but it wasn't. "Arriving UFO" is solid, but they could've (and should've) done more with it. "Don't Kill the Whale" is a great song, musically, that dies because it's lyrics are so over-the-top absurd, especially considering it's supposed to be somewhat serious. "Madrigal" is pretty good. "Circus of Heaven" is just stupid.

But when you think about it, "Future Times/Rejoice", "Release, Release", "On the Silent Wings of Freedom", and "Onward" are all awesome songs. The end result is just that "Tormato", despite the good material, feels disjointed and without purpose. It's like the "White Album" by the Beatles. Songs taken INDIVIDUALLY vary between absolutely amazing and just okay, but it's not really good as an ALBUM. "Tormato" could've been a great album, but it is, unfortunately, mediocre . . . but with good songs.

It's satisfying to hear Yes play a cover song from time to time. It's something we have in common.

You say Tormato...

I say Tomato.

Tormato is without doubt a pointless album with super songs.

Chris's custom-Wah effect used throughout is fan-bloody-tastic.

Who made that for him?

I heard it was a guy from England who produced custom guitar effects boxes.

That and the twang of his RM go hand-in-hand.

Let's call the whole thing off.

I believe the credits list him as playing "harmonized " bass. ?

Yeah, I've always wondered who came up with that credit. I'd say it's just a very short delay effect (same thing can be done by doubling tracks with one instrument slightly out of tune with the other). As for the wah, which I *love* on that album, I'd always suspected it was a Mutron or something similar - it seems to really bark when he lays into the notes.

The bass track on "Silent Wings Of Freedom" is a good example of the harmonizer and the envelope filter effects Squire was using all over that album.

On the Chris Squire star licks "instructional video" he shows his pedal board layout and explains about his effects with an example of each. Pretty cool stuff.