TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

Yes

Symphonic Prog

3.92 | 2825 ratings

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This is typically the kind of album for which a grade over five is obsolete, IMO. It's so special, personal and weird that noone else can tell you whether you're going to like it or not.

TFTO is sort of a concept albums with four 20-minute tracks. One of the best Yes has done with Alan White. Very original, very jazzy, incorporating very catchy melodies and psychedelic moods. It's a bit Yes meets Floyd for me, as the songs flow through, in a clean coherent stream.

Musically, great singing by Anderson, one of my favorites. Guitar play is more than essential in this one, as Howe leads the band into each part and mood, while Wakeman stays a bit in the background. Still, the band plays very harmonically as always, imitating orchestras : THIS is symphonic prog.

It's far from being a perfect album or a masterpiece, but it's still a gem of pure Yes music, very close to the heart, and very well written. I think a lot of it was improvised, seing as how the songs aren't as structured as Close to The Edge (the song) for example. Still, they're fluid and light.

A really subjective album for me, an essential one as well. Every Yes fan should have this one. Even it can't really compete with the biggest Yes albums, it remains a very important part of their discography.

4/5 for me.

mono | 4/5 | 2008-3-9

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