Jon Anderson – Olias Of Sunhillow (1976) [2014, Audio Fidelity Remastered, CD-Layer + Hi-Res SACD Rip]

Jon Anderson – Olias Of Sunhillow (1976)
[2014, Audio Fidelity Remastered, CD-Layer + Hi-Res SACD Rip]
EAC Rip | FLAC Image + Cue + Log
SACD Rip | ISO / DSD / 1bit / 2.8224MHz | FLAC Tracks / 24bit / 88.2kHz
Hybrid SACD | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 459 MB (CD-Layer) + 1.80 GB (SACD ISO) + 825 MB (SACD FLAC) | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | Austria | Cat#: AFZ 156 | Genre: Progressive Rock

Inspired by the artwork of Roger Dean and the writings of Ver Stanley Alder, Jon Anderson developed an entire story around the idea of an interstellar exodus from Sunhillow, writing this album around the narrative (named for the spaceship’s architect, Olias). The idea may seem overly ambitious, but Anderson fills the record with enough magical moments to delight fans of Yes’ mystic side. The music is written and performed almost entirely by Anderson, who dubs vocals, plays guitar and harp, and adds percussion and the occasional synthesizer to flesh out his ideas so that at no point does the music lose its spellbinding effect for lack of sonic detail. Olias of Sunhillow is faithful to the spirit of Yes, though decidedly more airy than that band’s visceral style — its closest comparison would be Fragile’s “We Have Heaven” or Going for the One’s “Wonderous Stories” (which was clearly influenced by this record) on the vocal tracks, and Greek progressive electronic composer (and future Anderson collaborator) Vangelis on the instrumental tracks. Although the album is effective in its entirety, “Sound Out the Galleon,” “Olias (To Build the Moorglade),” and “Solid Space” are some of the more memorable excerpts. The arrangements incorporate elements of the four tribes of Sunhillow, the most noticeable being Oriental elements that prefigure Vangelis’ own China (especially on the opening “Ocean Song”). While there are several songs that could have easily fit in Yes’ own catalog, and the lyrics continue to mine the mystical musings that Yes fans had come to enjoy, Olias of Sunhillow is not the missing Yes album some might hope it to be, though it does prefigure the later Jon & Vangelis collaborations of the ’80s. If possible, pick up the LP version of this release, since the packaging is stunning and features terrific artwork by Dave Roe. ― Allmusic

Tracklist:
01. Ocean Song – 03:06
02. Meeting (Garden Of Geda) / Sound Out The Galleon – 03:35
03. Dance Of Ranyart / Olias (To Build The Moorglade) – 04:19
04. Qoquaq En Transic / Naon / Transic To – 07:11
05. Flight Of The Moorglade – 03:25
06. Solid Space – 05:22
07. Moon Ra / Chords / Song Of Search – 12:51
08. To The Runner – 04:35

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INFO
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DOWNLOAD FROM
CD-Layer
LMA_JoAn.1976.OOS.2014.AF_SACD-CD-Layer.rar
Hi-Res SACD
LMA_JoAn.1976.OOS.2014.AF_SACD-FLAC.rar
LMA_JoAn.1976.OOS.2014.AF_SACD-ISO.rar
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