Chris Squire- Fish Out of Water

Between 1974 and 1977, Yes released no albums. Instead, all of their members put out solo albums. Bassist Chris Squire, unlike some of the others, would never produce another. However, this 1975 album is more than enough to rest a reputation on. The title comes from Squire's nickname, "Fish", and Bill Bruford handles the drums.

This one kicks off with "Hold Out your Hand". Right from the get-go, we're treated to Squire's signature bass style, over top of keyboards. His vocals are surprisingly good for someone who only sung backup to this point. The song has a prog-funk sort of feel, and that bass is what really makes it an excellent song. This segues into "You by my Side", a prog love song. Thought the lyrics are a bit tacky, under all the layers of bass and piano they're not very noticeable. The song gets very grand and fleshed out by and orchestra towards the end (most of this album's tracks feature it.) Up next is the epic "Silently Falling", which I can't quite find the words to describe stylistically, but I guess it's a bit like a darker sounding version of Yes' sound. Keyboards and flute feature prominently, and there are many cool vocal effects. There's also a time switch from 4/4 to 5/4. Absolutely Fantastic.

On the other side of the record is a peice called "Lucky Seven" in 7/8 time. With the whole darker mood and the addition of the saxophone, this track has a funky, urban feel to it. A fine song, and it couples well with the 14 minute climax, "Safe (Cannon Song)". This goes for a Phil Spector-ish wall of sound production wise, and everything from latin percussion to horns can be hard in the mix. This song is the only one on the album to feature regular guitar prominently, but the bass still dominates, and even solos on this track. Bruford's drumming adds a special touch as well.

I often wonder why this album has remained mostly a Yes fan collector's item. Everything about this thing is immaculate, from orchestral touches, the vocals, and time switches to the atmosphere and piano. Yet, Squire dominates this thing entirely with his bass guitar, his style truly unique in the world of music. This is one that just can not be missed, and is one of my favorite albums of all time.

If you like the bass guitar and you like Prog rock, this album will give you an orgasm. Grade: A+