Reviews
Quest for the Stones 2015
“UK symphonic prog-band YAK, have always had a special place in my musical heart and I have had the pleasure of “talking “ to Martin Morgan (Composer, keyboard wiz) now and then, via our Facebook friendship! Now finally...this new and fourth ,release sees the light of day!! I can tell you right now that this is a must have album, every serious prog collector and aficionado will wanna own this superb release!! Not one filler, not a dull moment, just excellent symphonic prog music, delivered by these three fine musicians.Style wise YAK are very much Genesis (early period) like... mind you no guitars, no vocals, just pure and excellent prog music all the way!This CD has been sitting in my CD player for quite some time now and the repeat button worn out. It is about time that these fine musicians got the fame and acknowledgement that they so richly deserve!!What can you do, you might ask ?! It really is a win win situation.. for starters buy this great release and treat yourself to a great musical gift and experience..thus supporting this great trio as well.I for one would love more music from YAK, sooner the better!!The only downside to this fine release...would be..its to short , duration wise!!Still I love the epic tracks here:1. Quest for the Stones (23:59)2. Vale of Aeternum (19:26)”
“London-based three-piece Yak have been around in one shape or another since neo-prog’s year zero back in the early 80s, though they only began to actually put out albums around 2004.
Their third is easily their most expansive work and the one that deserves to put them somewhere notable on the UK prog map. Quest For The Stones is an instrumental, symphonic/neo-ish album lasting almost 44 minutes, and containing just two tracks: the 24-minute title track and the 19-plus minuter Veil Of Aeternum. It’s quite brilliant.
To get a sense of the music imagine if Genesis had elected to dispense with vocals altogether after Peter Gabriel’s departure, and simply go quite utterly barking mad with their instrumental imaginations. The title piece (you really can’t use the word ‘song’) is like 23 minutes of One For The Vine with absolutely no limits. Driven by Martin Morgan’s dominant keyboards, the whole album veers between impossibly bombastic flourishes and mellow interludes like an out-of-control Enid hurtling down a hill. Best of all, if you buy this from the band the proceeds go towards an animal sanctuary in Essex. Honestly, you owe it to yourself to hear this.”