TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

Yes

Symphonic Prog

3.92 | 2825 ratings

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Prog Leviathan
Prog Reviewer

While many describe TFTO as a love-it-or-hate-it release... I have to go a different route and simply say that it's both: it's so good, I just can't hate it.

There are some truly exceptional moments to discover here... buried beneath the hours of rather bland soundscapes and slow melodies-- and that's the problem. The group choose to focus on high-creativity instead of high-energy, loosing the perfect balance they had attained in their previous three albums. The result are two discs worth of slow, meandering songs which only occasionally catch one's attention, but when they do are really something else. One cannot acknowledge that the band is in fine form, shining most in the delicate textures displayed throughout the album rather than the occasional outbursts of rock which come across as obtrusive to the soundscapes.

Because of this, I place TFTO in the realm of: exceptional background music, suitable more for busying oneself in mental or creative tasks than demanding one's attention. I acknowledge the ambition this release represents-- it's nothing short of sprawling, but many listeners will find themselves enjoying Yes' other more exciting and equally creative releases more than this one.

Songwriting: 3 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 3 Style/Emotion/Replay: 2

Prog Leviathan | 3/5 | 2008-4-22

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