It used to be that a new Yes album was an event. It is still meaningful to hardcore fans. Sidestepping the never-ending debate over Yes with Jon Anderson and Yes without Jon Anderson, I look at it as how does this album compare with the past few studio albums, not the classic 1970s era. The classic era of Yes is preserved on many formats of media to be enjoyed with a click or swipe of a device.
The current version of Yes has no original members, but Steve Howe joined for The Yes Album (1971), Yes’s third album. He’s sitting in the captain’s chair after the passing of Chris Squire.
Yes is now:
Jon Davison – lead vocals, electric rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, piano organ, synth
Steve Howe – guitars, vocals, mandolin, autoharp, harmonica, additional keyboards
Geoff Downes – synth, organ, piano, Mellotron
Billy Sherwood – bass guitar, vocals, additional electric guitar
Jay Schellen – drums
Howe is listed as the producer again; he is the musical director and spokesperson for Yes now. Aurora release June 12, 2026 is Yes’s 24th studio album. Recording took place during 2024-2025 by sending musical files to each other, routing them through Howe.
“Making this record was joyful, a chance to play, explore and give everything to the music,” Howe said in an interview. “We’re not trying to echo the past; we’re carrying the spirit of Yes forward and turning it into something new.”
The songs
“Aurora” Davison/Howe 7:25 – This sweeping orchestral-assisted song has the grandeur of prog-rock anthems of the 1970s. It segues into a more traditional Yes composition. Howe’s guitar licks are all over this track, outstanding work. This might not measure up against classic Yes album openers, but the song is quite accessible and not overly complicated.
“Turnaround Situation” Davison 5:48 – While this song is credited to Davison, it’s the keyboard playing by Downes that shines on this track. From piano to rock organ that gives the song that familiar Yes sound.
“Love Lies Dreaming” Davison/Howe 6:24 – The track starts promisingly enough and maintains this charm over more than six minutes. Davison adds some of his best vocals to this song. Howe as co-songwriter shapes a melodic soundscape that the others add their fine touches.
“Countermovement” – A healthy dose of Howe on this one. A lead vocal too. Very pleasant song, incorporating every Yes member in the suite. Pleasant, but hardly of the caliber of longer form Yes songs.
i. “Taro” Howe
ii. “Anytime Soon” Downes/Howe
iii. “Blink of an Eye” Davison/Sherwood/Schellen
iv. “Freedom’s Edge” Howe/Davison/Howe/Downes/Sherwood/Schellen 13:44
“Ariadne” Davison/Downes/Sherwood 6:14 – A different sound, with some Billy and Geoff. Has some moments.
“All Hands on Deck” Howe 3:03 – Finally, a song that rocks a little.
“Outside the Box” – Most unusual sounding, almost an instrumental, with voice notes not words, adds to an offbeat song.
i. “Light” Howe
ii. “Outbox” Howe/Sherwood 4:18
“Emotional Intelligence” Davison 3:30 – Of Davison’s contributions here, this is probably the best. Very melodic, and not as lightweight as other songs.
“Jambustin’” Davison/Howe 4:22 – This songs many directions, pieces of it are nice, but collectively an odd song.
“Watching the River Roll” Sherwood 4:40 – It takes a bit for this song to get going, but it is very reminiscent of past Yes songs. It’s a very good Yes track by Sherwood.
If I have a complaint, the album has too much input from Davison, a complaint of mine on previous Yes albums, and too little Downes and especially Sherwood. Davison is an adequate lyricist, just a weaker composer of music. Far more experienced are Sherwood and Downes, are either not bringing material to the sessions, or Howe is not incorporating their ideas into the songwriting. Sherwood in particular is getting short sheeted in the mix, his bass does not thunder and command like Squire’s did. Sherwood is a very talented guy, he was handpicked by Squire to be the Yes bassist going forward, so let him fly.
Final thoughts
Aurora is not a bad album, neither is it great. While it has the professionalism of Yes, it’s the creativity and input from other band members that’s in short supply. Sending musical files back and forth is one way to build an album, but it is a sterile way of collaborating and does not build much adapting and experimentation. It’s an assembly process, not really a creative one. Both Downes and Sherwood have other projects where they compose and produce original ideas.
Should Yes continue? As long as Howe is willing, and they do not tarnish the Yes legacy. Aurora is not your grandfather’s Yes, so let’s not expect any new material to resemble the “classics” or to move us like that material did. Aurora will not get played much in my collection, but that’s true of many recent releases by legacy artists. I’m still glad to have heard it a few times and embrace this new chapter in the Yes musical journey – one that has given me great pleasure for fifty-plus years.
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