Jon Anderson - 2011 - Survival & Other Stories

(48:16; Frontiers Records [2026 Edition] )

This 2010 album has also now been reissued by Frontiers and was brought together in a quite strange manner in that he asked, through his website, for mp3 samples he could then work with which resulted in a release which is surprisingly consistent with much-improved vocals. It can be argued this was the first album with him back to full strength following his illness, as although he had released ‘The Tree of Life’ with Rick Wakeman the year before it does not contain this power. Interestingly, he revisited one of the songs from that release on this one, “Just One Man”, so he obviously felt there was unfinished business.

When Jon is on form there are very few singers in the world who can match him, and he certainly never sounds as if he was in his sixties at this point (now in his eighties he is still recording and touring, incredible). This is not classic Yes-style material, and while there are some elements which are reminiscent of the early Eighties, there is very much a lightness and freedom throughout, as if Jon is happy to be alive and having fun doing what he does best. Due to the songs came together there are many different styles throughout, from the more acoustic to the symphonic and poppy, but there is a cohesiveness which binds it together, ensuring that the listener is on for the journey, smiling as they go. It is not a truly great album, but it is certainly one which deserves to have more time in the limelight and all power to Frontiers for making that happen.   

Kev Rowland, July 2026

Links:
https://www.jonanderson.com/
https://www.frontiers.it/