Jon Anderson
Olias of Sunhillow - 2 Disc Remastered
(Esoteric/Cherry Red)
7/10
By Decibel Report

Not one to engage completely with reality when fantasy and surreality beckons, there's nothing in the least mundane about Anderson's Olias Of Sunhillow. Not when one digests its narrative of an alien race on a journey to discover a new planet to live on following the volcanic destruction of their home planet. Got it? Well, if not, it's the music that matters, right? What began as a few home recordings during a hiatus in Yes' business following the Relayer tour grew from 8 track demos to 24 track recordings. Anderson even plays all the instrumentation from which it benefits and suffers in equal measure if one is expecting thrilling moments of virtuosity.

Instead, there is a lush new-age musical background enabling Anderson to project his singular vocal to tell the conceptual storyline. There is much wistful affection for this album from those who cherish this first solo release and the many who feel this is his best work from a catalogue of mercurial solo recordings. The music's narrative reminds of Tolkien and sci-fi fantasy days of yore when joss sticks and the whiff of patchouli infused music across the airwaves and the atmospheric conditions in bedrooms and bedsits up and down the land.

Crucially, this remastered edition does throw a soft lens light into the darkened corners of the original vinyl and initial CD release. However, with the original multi-track masters seemingly lost, the second disc isn't a true 5.1 surround sound but an up-mix 5.1 from the original stereo master tapes. Nevertheless, nit-picking this mix up aside, it's an excellent listen that makes this album a much better listening experience.

From the sonic waves of new age sounds on Ocean Song onwards, this first solo release heralds the world music tack Anderson took further on his then future solo albums. Squeaky techy noises and an ambient babel of babbling sound effects create an aura of spiritual creativity and there is an Asian influence on some of the musical musings within.

Still a pleasant album to listen to if, at times, being somewhat unmemorable. This release demands to be played on a 5.1 surround sound system to enjoy it to its maximum effect.