TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

An abundant and "fragmented" masterwork, an album that embodies all the excess of progressive rock, conceived and composed as a gargantuan spiritual journey in four movements, and perhaps even the logical step forward from 'Close to the Edge'? You may describe Yes' 'Tales from Topographic Oceans' in many ways but one thing is certain - this is an impeccable piece of music that defies classification, it elevates the concept album idea, it manifests itself as the ultimate celebration of a musical genre that was supposed to be taken to its extreme at some point, and this is the album that dares to stand at the point of no return. A laborious, epic, grandiose and sophisticated listen, 'Tales' is also one of the most rewarding, experimental and unhinged albums in the history of rock music, and its mere existence is a sign of how truly special the musicians in Yes are, and how majestic progressive rock can be.

A presentation and execution closer to classical music and a sound in four movements just as grandiose, this is the album that seemingly did not follow any rules. From the opening chants of 'The Revealing Science of God', a masterful epic inspired by the complexity of 'Close to the Edge', to the pastoral and spacey passages of 'The Remembering' or the diligent chaos of 'The Ancient', the album is eclectic and passionate, full of memorable and mind-blowing moments, definitely including some of the most challenging, complex and majestically lush Yes music. Undoubtedly 'TFTO' is a difficult listen, and its majesty lies in its imperfection, especially when considering how ambitious the concept and the musical presentation are, together with the fact that it took the band five months to finish. Just for the stories around the making of the album and the fact that its complexity was among the reasons for Wakeman's leaving after finishing recording 'Tales', this is one of the very significant releases of progressive rock, an album that embodies the utter extravagance of a genre that was said to be among the more virtuosic, pretentious and lavishly abundant ones.