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| Heaven & Earth (Yes album) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Heaven & Earth |
| Type | studio |
| Released | 8 July 2014 |
| Recorded | 2013–2014 |
| Studio | Armoury Studios, Vancouver; Air Lyndhurst, London |
| Genre | Progressive rock, pop rock |
| Length | 45:57 |
| Label | Frontiers Records |
| Producer | Billy Sherwood |
| Prev title | Fly from Here |
| Prev year | 2011 |
| Next title | From a Page |
| Next year | 2019 |
Heaven & Earth (Yes album) is the twenty-first studio album by the English rock band Yes, released 8 July 2014 on Frontiers Records. The album features longstanding members from the line-up that recorded Fly from Here and continues collaborations with producer Billy Sherwood, while marking the final studio appearance of singer Jon Anderson's absence, replaced by Jon Davison. The record juxtaposes the group's progressive rock heritage associated with albums like Fragile and Close to the Edge with more concise songwriting reminiscent of 90125-era pop-rock.
After touring in support of Fly from Here and participating in anniversary tours for The Yes Album and Relayer, Yes entered sessions overseen by bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Steve Howe with keyboardist Geoff Downes and drummer Alan White. Following personnel changes and scheduling tied to appearances with Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman and commitments to King Crimson-adjacent projects, the band contracted Frontiers Records for a new studio release. Recording took place at Armoury Studios in Vancouver and at Air Lyndhurst Studios in London, with Sherwood acting as producer and mixing engineer, and mastering completed at facilities associated with engineer Maor Appelbaum.
The songwriting on Heaven & Earth blends contributions from Howe, Sherwood, Davison, Downes, and Squire, drawing melodic approaches linked to Trevor Horn-era arrangements and structural ideas from Yes's 1970s repertoire without directly invoking archival suites like those on Tales from Topographic Oceans. Lyrical themes address existential questions, interpersonal reflection, and landscape imagery, paralleling motifs found in works by King Crimson, Genesis, and Pink Floyd. Instrumentation emphasizes layered guitars, Hammond organ and synthesizer textures, Mellotron-like pads, and multi-part harmonies that nod to arrangements by producers such as Eddie Offord and Bruce Fairbairn.
Frontiers released the album on compact disc, vinyl and digital platforms, coordinating launch efforts with a headline summer tour that included dates in North America, Europe and festival appearances at events aligned with promoters like Live Nation. Promotional singles were serviced to radio stations and streaming playlists, with music videos produced for select tracks and backed by interviews on programs associated with BBC Radio 6 Music and SiriusXM. The band performed new material live on televised appearances and at signature venues including Royal Albert Hall during anniversary concerts.
Critical reaction to Heaven & Earth was mixed. Some reviewers compared the record unfavorably to landmark Yes albums such as Close to the Edge and Fragile, citing a perceived move toward shorter song formats akin to 90125 and commentary about production similar to contemporary releases from Porcupine Tree and Marillion. Others praised performances by Howe and Squire, and Davison's vocal delivery that echoed influences from Jon Anderson and Chris Squire's harmonic approaches. Publications that covered progressive rock and mainstream outlets offered divergent assessments, with discussions often referencing the band's legacy established during the 1970s progressive rock movement.
Heaven & Earth debuted within several national charts, entering the UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200 in the United States, reflecting the band's sustained international fanbase cultivated through decades of touring and catalog sales dominated by titles like Fragile and Close to the Edge. Sales figures were modest compared with peak-era releases but consistent with contemporary chart placements for veteran progressive rock acts represented by labels such as Frontiers Records.
All tracks written by Yes members and collaborators as noted.
1. "Believe Again" – 3:54 2. "To Ascend" – 4:26 3. "The Game" – 4:54 4. "Light of the Ages" – 4:54 5. "In a World of Our Own" – 4:19 6. "Subway Walls" – 4:36 7. "Knights of Nothingness" – 7:22 8. "It Was All We Knew" – 11:25
(Track times approximate; songwriting credits distributed among Steve Howe, Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison, Geoff Downes, and Chris Squire).
- Jon Davison – lead and backing vocals (formerly of Glass Hammer) - Steve Howe – electric and acoustic guitars, steel guitar (formerly of Asia) - Chris Squire – bass guitar, backing vocals (founder of Yes) - Geoff Downes – keyboards (member of Asia and The Buggles) - Alan White – drums, percussion (formerly of John Lennon's backing band)
Additional personnel: Billy Sherwood – production, additional guitars, backing vocals; guest engineers and orchestral contractors from studios affiliated with Air Lyndhurst Studios.
Following the album's release, Yes embarked on tours mixing new material with classics from the catalog, appearing at legacy festivals and venues connected to 1970s progressive rock heritage. The album is retrospectively viewed within discographies documenting transitions between line-ups that included projects by members such as Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and collaborations with producers like Trevor Horn. After Chris Squire's passing in 2015, the record became noted as his final studio work with the band, and subsequent releases and archival projects like From a Page revisited material from adjacent sessions. The tour cycle reinforced the band's enduring presence alongside contemporaries including Rush and Yes's influence on progressive rock.
Category:2014 albums Category:Yes (band) albums