TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

Even Jon Anderson has claimed that in digital times "Tales?" would be only about 60 minutes in one CD if they had recorded it now, this masterpiece is incredibly creative in every of his four suites and 80 minutes long. The first two have some of the most pastoral passages in Yes music. The third may be (delightfully) odd at times, but perhaps it was the reaction to the runaway of Bill Bruford with King Crimson, just like saying, "Yes is not enough adventurous for you, even if we've just recorded 'Close to the Edge'? You want challenges with King Crimson? Ok, dig this one?" But one cannot imagine what Yes was yet to achieve with "Relayer" without the unique "The Ancient". And the fourth one, "Ritual", has every special ingredient that has made Yes one of the best prog bands in the known Universe? In a way, every Yes record (at least their classic period from "The Yes Album" until "Going for the One") planted the seeds for the next one. You have dreamy melodies, challenging instrumental passages, superb musicianship. But also plenty of surprises and MAGIC that grows with every listen. "Tales?" is not only a phenomenal record, it's a very pleasant voyage into the depths of spiritual music.