Yes are certainly no strangers to the live album, having released in the region of ten previously. This mammoth 2-CD set, entitled 'In The Present', captures a performance from nearly two years ago in Lyon France, so the title isn't quite accurate, but near enough. It doesn't quite feature the current line-up either, with Oliver Wakeman, son of Rick, featuring on keyboards on this album. He has since been replaced by Geoff Downes.

With this show having been recorded before this year's very well received all new 'Fly From Here' album, what you get here is the (almost) current line-up, featuring Benoit David on vocals, running through many of the finest moments in Yes's history. Most of the early 70's lengthy prog big hitters are there - 'Siberian Khatru', 'South Side Of The Sky', 'Heart Of The Sunrise', 'All Good People', 'Starship Trooper', 'And You And I', 'Roundabout' - as well as '83's AOR mega-hit 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart', which is the most recent track on offer here, being a mere 28 years old! 'Astral Traveller' is a surprise inclusion, going all the way back to the band's second album 'Time And A Word', as is 'Tormato's 'Onward'.

Two tracks from 1980's 'Drama' feature in the shape of 'Tempus Fugit' and the epic 'Machine Messiah'. Given Benoit David's vocal similarities to original vocalist Jon Anderson, it gives us the chance to hear what these tracks may have sounded like if Anderson had not quit for the 'Drama' album to be replaced by Trevor Horn, and both sound good to me. The performances are excellent throughout, and the sound quality top notch. Benoit David's vocal performance is impressive, and on the back of the 'Fly From Here' album, this one certainly proves he's a worthy successor to Jon Anderson. It appears the album was recorded at just one concert, so the lucky French audience that night certainly got their money's worth with this being a real marathon.

On top of the two audio discs, you also get a 55 minute DVD (which I didn't get to see here with my review copy), featuring interviews, behind the scenes footage, and live excerpts, so it's value for money too - a must for Yes fanatics in fact. With the tracklisting being a bit of a 'greatest hits' or 'best of' it would also serve as a good purchase for more casual Yes admirers, although listeners new to the band who want to dip their toe in Yes's topographic ocean may be better off with one of the numerous anthology CD packages out there. All in all, 'In The Present' is a most worthy addition to the Yes live album catalogue, and proof there's plenty of life in the old progs yet.

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