If there is one sure thing to scare off a hardworking music reviewer, just tell them that their next item is from a member of Yes. That should give a serious case of heebie-jeebies. In the case of Steve Howe's Remedy, the actual listening experience isn't nearly as terrifying as the concept originally seemed. Rather than the bloated art-rock or worse, Yes's attempts at AOR mainstream music, Steve Howe takes his band Remedy (which apparently features a couple of his kids) on a trip through mostly jazz tinged blues and pub rock territory. The majority of the music on Elements is instrumental and actually not half bad, although you won't see me climbing any of the water towers out on the eastern plains to spray paint the band's name. As expected, Howe's guitar playing (as well as the multitude of other instruments he plays on this album) is dexterous, although not inflammatory. He offers lead vocals on a few songs and sticks to the Mark Knopfler method of vocalizing.

Elements is a relatively varied recording that avoids sounding as tedious as many bands on the InsideOut label, but never quite kicks into Highly Impressive territory. If the idea of an hour of pub rock and light jazzy blues sounds interesting, by all means, check this out.

Review by John Chedsey

Review date: 03/2004

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