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Olias of Sunhillow (Jon Anderson) | Extended Play Lounge (Ep 34) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-12-23 04:06:00
Edited:
2024-06-04 21:15:11
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

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In this final Extended Play Lounge episode of 2022, I am pleased to listen to Olias of Sunhillow by Jon Anderson for the first time.

I do have a book of sheet music to this album, and I'll be looking through it with curiosity now that I've heard the music. But, I'm glad that I decided not to use the score while listening. Jon's soundscapes are immersive enough to leave the score aside for the first listen.

It was great to have access to the vinyl with the beautiful artwork, too!

Thanks for your great support this year. I look forward to 2 dozen more EPLs next year!

Files

Olias of Sunhillow (Jon Anderson) - EPL 34

Comments

James Keleher

Cast a pastel sky, or simply wonder, until the day you die. You should have reacted to that.

James Keleher

Peace will come, peace will reign. What all good people hope and pray for.

James Keleher

Heartbeat, someone once said when I was playing the bodhrán in a Dublin session back in the early 1990's, that the bodhrán sounds like two heartbeats, and I thought of mine and my dad's, who passed when I was five.

Ralph Darvill

Despite being a huge Yes fan for almost 50 years, I had never heard this album. It's really good, and I can see why Vangelis wanted to work with Jon what with all those adventurous electronic sounds. Thanks for doing this as an extended play, really good analysis.

Duff

I love this album more than anything except Tales from Topographic Oceans and it is its' spirituality that draws me in over and over . Wish I had been the member to introduce you to it but, you have been busy and I only accidentally discovered you searching for something about The Revealing Science of God on YouTube . I am ecstatic watching these EPLounge episodes to see you hear music I have been listening for decades for the first time and cast that impish smile directly at us . Like seeing a new member of our prog "tribe" learn the secret handshake or wink maybe . Thank you as always for these vicariously wonderfilled moments

Mark Parker

This was the first album I bought for myself way back in like 1990, before I even knew who Yes was, and it was pretty much pivotal in making my tastes what they are today. It wasn't until like 2019 that Jon started performing any of it live (that I'm aware). All that said, where the heck did you get sheet music for this and are they still making it? XD

Illume Eltanin

From olias.wordpress.com: The Story by Jon Anderson Through the mist of a million years of energy three riders skimmed the surface of the plain of Tallowcross and raced towards a dream. Their meeting point lying between the glades and Gardens of Geda and the high mountain masses, where fountains of light and colour and soft winds of passion, openly existing through wisdom, surrounded the three that silent eve, they sang together through motions only ways, as all around them sparkled and chorused in wonder. OLIAS was to build the ship the Moorglade Mover RANYART was to guide the moments begotten light QOQUAQ a leader, a fashioner of peoples of Sunhillow. Four tribes lived on Sunhillow and existed through music, rhythms and tempos, each of the tribes attained a light of their own through their songs to their stars, so their energy, their souls, their time, their movements were all accordant to the stars. NAGRANIUM – deep dark skinned streched beat ASATRANIUS – jangled lines of monotone ORACTANIOM – cascading ready light metal NORDRANIOUS – weavers of body sound The dance of Ranyart would start the call; with beams of alternity directed to the skies. Bending the staff of motions begotten light, he moved with grace within him and charged the air to part and carry him towards the course of passion. Olias had been busy, and having sang his song the metalic-like trees with their golden leaves jingling like winter snow, had motioned their strong roots to slowly dance out of position towards Olias to create the frame of the Moorglade. With spread-eagled wings and high masts with enough room for all, it stood, near ready, it needed only to be strengthened and covered and this was for the fish of the ocean the ‘solar’ to do. Olias reach out with voice and sound to ease them from their play. As intertwined and inter moving parts of the ocean rose into the air glistening in the quick wind, they rushed expectantly towards the frame and crashed their forms and clasped and died as all will: the Moorglade was ready. Hurtling through space amidst countless sister planets. Sunhillow had held the tribes for as long as time would allow; Qoquaq sat alone in the valley, at close points to all, and sang of the mass lands to the East; as the sound ascended and rang out of the valley, a distant form was heard, deep rhythms awoke that spelt of a movement, as slowly and surely Nagrunium awoke to the message of love and haste. A deep throated drone from the East was heard as an array of sound converged toward the valley. Metal could be seen glinting and chiming in the Western mist. Qoquaq, translike, sang out the rhythms in one clear tone as the singers of the North approached the scene. As they began to mingle a strange discord arose; each tribe had not seen of each other and were at once charged to counteract the balance. Only seen through a veil of innocence, still the movement was so strong all that could move, moved toward Qoquaq, so great was his song. He then gently rose as if not seen at all and guided them toward the ship the Moorglade Mover. Olias sang out to Qoquaq as the tribes of sound, in their transic state, appeared on the plain of Tallowcross. His song of welcome was to bring them closer to the ship, as they climbed on board the noise rang out within, rhythms took over rhythm and became more and more intense so that all in one movement the giant wings of the Moorglade began to take to life. Slowly she dragged herself along the plain, onto the ocean from which point the ocean began to move underneath the feel of the ship. The solar shell counter-reacting with the live made sense of vision, and as the Moorglade began to race, inventing speed, a great writhing tidal wave became and rose high towards the stars, thrusting the Moorglade high into space and to flight with giant sails beaming to the stars, and as the ship travelled into space a thunderous crash was heard in the distance as Sunhillow exploded into millions of silent teardrops. (end of side 1) Inside the ship all had quietened and as Olias and Qoquaq were in a unified trance piloting the ship and Ranyart in deep space of position; the tribes were left to see for themselves their own situation. Almost at once there was a hum of doubt which doubled to a noise and shuffle of discontented tremours within. Moon Ra, the disorientation had shown its face, they cried and screamed for mercy tearing at each others and their own feelings, releasing only fear and pain. The sound was utter disharmony of balance resounding to such a voiceless pitch and counterpitch so that which rose from their surroundings was awkward and sullen, their own fear had created a form from deep within their own souls. All was bared before them. The form rose and filled the inside walls of Moorglade so as to split the walls around to such a force and strain as to crash all into the vastness of space to be lost forever. At this moment Olias awoke from his pilot position, standing, his arms outstretched he held within him the terror and cries of torment from the people, he sang chords of love and life and caressed the form until it surrended. The people now in a dazed light relaxed and slept underneath a crystal blanket, each in a chrysalis state, as the Moorglade journeyed on through space a song of love was released and played among them. Ranyart had spelt out the path and danced a cascade of joy as the ship stretched towards the earth, he began to sing a new Song of Search as he soared over the hills. Clouds moved along with the silent wind, as the silver chord of life began, for as the Moorglade came to rest on the plains of Asguard, one mind of many thoughts emerged from within; one sound; one soul; one. And so in parting Olias, Ranyart and Qoquaq climbed to the highest mountain, lying down with eyes fixed to the stars, only seeing the stars, they again became one with the universe and drifted away towards the sun.

Jason Stockwell

The album is truly a vibe! Saw him play some of it live in Lynn a few years ago! His new album 1000 Hands is quite good, but I'd always suggest Animation first because it's too good! Even better than Song of Seven, though neither are concept albums!

Randy Hammill

Finally! It’s such a unique album. At its heart it’s relatively simple music, yet somehow Jon makes it sound so complex with the layering, especially the layering of his voice. I’m not sure I can think of music that sounds so overwhelmingly optimistic and hopeful as Jon’s, which obviously carries over to much of Yes’ music as well. This album and Fish Out of Water clearly point to what forms the heart of Yes music. Howe’s solo albums (Beginnings was the one released at the same time) clearly show his input, yet somehow don’t always have the Yes stamp to me. And Rick’s “Six Wives” is really the only one of his that really fits the Yes mold. He went a completely unique direction starting with his solo album of this period - Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Bill Coonley

Thanks so much for reuniting me with this gem! I will have to find and purchase another LP of "Olias"! Is Patrick Moraz' "Story of i" in the future works?

MrWondrous David Beckwith

We recognized Jonathan as a fellow mystic of the peace pipe the moment I heard the quality of his voice and spiritual vision of his music, lo those many eons ago. And let it be known that the harmonious flicking of the Bics has become a tradition around these parts, be they Arvo or otherwhither. This has been in my heart's ear since its release coincided with my release from a world of materialistic manustupration and more, not Thomas. And I had remembered "To the Runner" as my favorite. But after today, I may have to now place that designation upon "Qoquaq Ën Transic"/"Naon"/"Transic Tö" which may be even less memorable than Scrambled Eggs was Yesterday, if I may be so cummings. Merry Christmas y'all!

Christopher Arters (relative timeworx - Mr.A)

The best way I know to briefly relate my appreciation of this work is to call it "subtle splendor". There's a joy to it that resonates throughout. It conjures a world where everyone is actually working together as one and Jon captures that positivity softly, yet powerfully. Even the sounds (the actual tones used) on this are unique - not revolutionary but again just subtly enough to make this work singular.

Jim Reeves

Wonderful! Thanks Doug!

otherdeb

Doug, thanks for doing this one! I've always loved it.

Sian Podmore

Oh wow! Thank you Doug. I've loved this album for many years and I'm looking forward to hearing your analysis and response to it. This is a great Xmas pressie.

David Barker

Such a masterpiece. I’ve loved this since the 70s (I think) when I first bought it. Wore the grooves down on the vinyl.

Jeff Norman

It's interesting you'd mention the very different feel resulting from the absence of a rock drum kit. There was one moment in this album—there's an arpeggiated guitar in 3/4, with a simple, plucked line above—that somewhat reminded me of moments in the second half of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells'—and Oldfield's music in this era, that album especially, was almost completely drum-kit-free...and inhabited a similar space, in that even though Oldfield used primarily "rock" and "folk" instruments, the arrangements and texture felt more orchestral. It's also fascinating to me that Anderson taught himself a lot of the instruments he plays on this album specifically in order to make this album. And while we all know that tape-editing can create miracles, whatever else we can say about his playing, his arrangement skills are clearly quite brilliant. I still can't think of another album that sounds like this one.

Steeleye 2112

See, just watching the intro sums up what's wrong with Jon - just a lack of ambition. I mean, everyone decides to bring out their first solo album, whilst developing their musical and compositional skills and make it a dense concept piece, weaving together multiple mythologies and write and play everything on it. Not like it was a success anyway, it's only been adored by a few million people all around the world for 50 years. Anyone could have done this, must try harder Jon.

bobj

Just got a chance to set aside the time to get a full appreciation of Dr. Doug’s reaction. Classic Jon. Always uplifting, positive and peaceful. Doing all of this by bringing attention to the natural world (albeit fictional). Getting in touch with our primal selves. If anyone could find the right tone of vibration to get everyone to levitate (at least during a concert), Jon would be the one to do it. He truly has a unique vibe. Thanks for your take on this one-of-a-kind LP, Dr. Doug. I have had the vinyl of this just a couple of years after it’s release.