There are two "Yessounds"
I think there have been two "Yessounds" in Yes music: the one with Bruford and the one with White.
Why do I say so? Let's listen to "All fighters past": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np78-LrIVV8
You can hear Bruford going frenzy, trying to push the boundaries of the song. If you listen to The revealing science of God you can't find anything like that. It sounds like the band was reharsing and "All fighters past" was the final song. You can also watch the "Union - live in the round" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9VbeKd7AyE and listen to the change when Bruford and White take each other's place in Yours is no disgrace.
The fact is that Alan White had a much more "laid back" style, and a habit to stick to 4/4 whenever the situation allowed it. Listen to "That, that is" (great tune, btw) and try and figure out what Bruford could have done with it. Also "On the silent wings of freedom", another song where you could wander around with anything but Alan sticks to 4/4. He did it much more often than you think, if you listen closely.
Now, I'm a Bruford-fan of course, and I disclose it, but I have to admit that having Alan White allowed Yes to make some great songs that could never have been with BillyB. For instance Awaken, a song that the '72 Bruford couldn't play like Alan did (maybe '76 Bruford could, but because he had passed through King Crimson at the time). It requires a laid back approach. The same applies to the whole Drama album, a record where Alan White shines.
But then, my point is: like it or not, there are two Yessounds. The frenzy one of the first five records and the more laid-back of the following ones. Not ALWAYS laid back, but you get what I mean. I think White allowed Yes to broaden their audience because of the way his playing allows the listener to be more easily involved. On the other hand I personally think he wasted a BIG amount of chances to do something rhythmically interesting in the songs, a chance he almost never took. Too bad. But yet, my point is: there are two yessounds, and they are both worth listening to :-)
