Yes Mirror to the Sky released

Mirror to the Sky Yes

Released: May 19, 2023 Peak: -- US, 30 UK, -- CN, -- AU, 14 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: classic progressive rock veteran

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Cut from the Stars [5:25] All Connected [9:02] Luminosity [9:04] Living Out Their Dream [4:45] Mirror to the Sky [13:53] Circles of Time [4:59] Unknown Place [8:15] * One Second Is Enough [4:04] * Magic Potion [4:08] * * tracks on bonus disc Total Running Time: 47:08, 63:35 with bonus tracks The Players: Jon Davison (vocals) Steve Howe (guitar, backing vocals) Geoff Downes (keyboards, synths) Billy Sherwood (bass, backing vocals) Jay Schellen (drums, percussion)

Rating: 2.451 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

The Passing of Alan White This album marks the first appearance of Jay Schellen as an official full-time member of the band. He replaced Alan White, who’d been with the band and passed away in 2022. Schellen had filled in at times for White since 2016. The album was dedicated to White. WK Steve Howe, the band’s guitarist off-and-on since 1970, served as producer, as he had on 2021’s The Quest. Reviews Ultimate Classic Rock’s Gary Graff said this was better than previous album, The Quest, noting a more muscular” sound. He said, the album “gives us every reason to hope this is the beginning of a prolific new era for the band.” WK Riff magazine’s David Gill saw the album as a return to Yes’ golden era, calling it a “remarkable piece of nostalgia” that was still “fresh and vibrant.” WK Spill magazine called it “a strong, uplifting, and very positive album accompanied by some exceptional musicianship.” WK Artwork Roger Dean did the cover art, as he had done on many previous Yes albums. He based the work on a story told to him by video designer Henk Rogers. He’d paddled to the middle of the lake during a camping trip. When the ripples settled, the lake was a perfect mirror for the night sky. WK The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Cut from the Stars Yes

Writer(s): Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood Released: 3/10/2023 (single), Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.72 streaming About the Song: Singer Jon Davison was inspired by visiting Joshua Tree National Park’s dark-sky preserve. He praised Billy Sherwood for the “twinkling” sound he added to the song with his instrumentation. He rearranged Sherwood’s parts with audio editing software and then the band built on that. Steve Howe made an instrumental outro from the song’s bridge. He said this is the album’s most unique track in terms of guitar style. WK

All Connected Yes

Writer(s): Jon Davison, Steve Howe, Billy Sherwood Released: 4/26/2023 (single), Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.92 streaming About the Song: Jon Davison credited Steve Howe with ideas that were used for the introduction and ending. Sherwood offered some vocal and lyrical contributions. Davison said he looked at the lyrics from a more metaphysical angle while Sherwood looked at them through a more “technological and physical” lens. WK

Luminosity Yes

Writer(s): Jon Davison, Steve Howe, Billy Sherwood Released: Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.20 streaming About the Song: After the band recorded this song, they tackled it a second time with a new arrangement. The song was initially called “Luminous” but changed after the band reworked it into what Steve Howe described as “a bigger tune.” Howe plays autoharp on the song. WK

Living Out Their Dream Yes

Writer(s): Steve Howe, Geoff Downes Released: Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.16 streaming About the Song: Steve Howe thought the introduction was reminiscent of the Rolling Stones. He also said the song features a slight tongue-in-cheek lyric but everything described actually happened. One specific example was his visit to a steak and seafood restaurant where there was a wedding. WK

Mirror to the Sky Yes

Writer(s): Jon Davison, Steve Howe Released: single (2/23/2024), Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.23 streaming About the Song: The 14-minute title track and centerpiece for Yes’ 23rd album has been described as “sweeping and cinematic” and a return to the band’s progressive rock roots with the song’s “arpeggios and multilayered vocals” compared to material from Yes’ Tales from Topographic Oceans. Music writer Howard Whitman called it a “prog epic” and writer David Pearson said it was “atmospheric and sonically superb.” WK

Circles of Time Yes

Writer(s): Jon Davison Released: 5/24/2023 (single), Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.24 streaming About the Song: Howe insisted this song, which originated from a musical idea from Jon Davison, had to be on the album. The group made several stabs at arranging the song, one which featured a church organ, but ultimately decided on a more minimal, stripped-down version. WK

Unknown Place Yes

Writer(s): Steve Howe Released: Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.12 streaming

One Second Is Enough Yes

Writer(s): Steve Howe Released: Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.11 streaming

Magic Potion Yes

Writer(s): Steve Howe Released: Mirror to the Sky (2023) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.11 streaming About the Song: This song was called “It’s a Good Day to Be Had by All” in its early form but Howe changed the title so it wouldn’t be so similar to “It Will Be a Good Day” from the band’s 1999 album The Ladder. WK

Resources/References: WK Wikipedia page for Mirror to the Sky album WK Wikipedia page for “Mirror to the Sky” song Related DMDB Pages: First posted 9/20/2025.