Just like the Phoenix rising out of the ashes, former Yes front man Jon Anderson has quickly been putting the pieces of his life and career back together after surviving a very serious health scare back in 2008. While he was rehabilitating both physically and mentally from this harrowing ordeal, his former band mates made the highly publicized and somewhat controversial decision to forge on without him. Not one to remain bitter about the situation, after the initial feelings of betrayal and hurt wore off, Anderson got back to writing new music.

Hot on the heels of last year's collaboration with keyboardist and fellow Yes member, Rick Wakeman, on The Living Tree, as well as his most recent solo, acoustic tour, Anderson returns with a shimmering new collection of material entitled appropriately enough, Survival & Other Stories. Inspired by the response from musicians around the world to send him samples of their music, Jon began writing in earnest and some of the fruit born out of these unique collaborations can be heard over the course of this eleven track album.

With the exception of "Just One Man", which appeared on The Living Tree, Anderson offers up a rich and lush sounding collection of brand new compositions that center around personal themes of love, life, healing and yes, survival. While Anderson has always been a target for his 'new age' style lyrics and beliefs, it's hard to snub the uplifting messages, especially when they're coupled with the inherently gorgeous and free flowing melodies that permeate throughout songs like "Unbroken Spirit" and "Big Buddha Song". Whether going for a more stripped down, acoustic approach on "Understanding Truth" and "Effortlessly" or delving into slightly more orchestral style arrangements with "Incoming", the revamped version of "Just One Man" and the final track, the heavenly ambient "Cloudz", it all comes together beautifully. Any misgivings about whether or not his voice is still intact after all he's been through, not to mention he turns sixty eight this year, can promptly be thrown out the window, because quite honestly Jon sounds better now than he ever has. Survival & Other Stories should be regarded as nothing less than quintessential Jon Anderson.