TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS

This is now my favourite Yes album. I started listening to Yes in 1972 and once viewed Close to the Edge as a masterpiece. I saw Yes play Reading in 1975 and they were easily the best band at the festival, they were magnificent. Those were prog's halcyon days, when 30,000 kids got collectively excited about this weird music.

I have probably played Close to the Edge too often over the years there are no surprises when I hear it. The Yes Album and Fragile are both records I used to love but don't listen to very much these days. Topographic Oceans still sounds great, in my view it has more depth than their other records. I think it's the best thing they ever did. I agree it's not as accessible as their more famous albums, but it slowly grows on you.

I have always been in the minority, most critics hated this record. Most of my friends gave it a wide berth. For me it is still a magical record.