Tales from Topographic Oceans: Yes. Atlantic 2-SD 4742.

Reviewed by P.F. O'Dea.

Yes are definitely not to be taken lightly. I don't dunk it's unfair to quote a couple of examples from their lyrics out of context:

"As one with the knowledge and magic of the source/attuned to the majesty of music/they marched as one with earth." and "Lost in light's array/I ventured to see as the sound began to play"

Jon Anderson's words illustrate the problem: he and the band seem to be pushing hard for some sort of magnum opus. They bring a tremendous amount of fire power to bear on the Great Task: Yes are incredibly accomplished as musicians — they've all got the technique, and they aren't afraid to try things out. The music is awesomely literate and blessed with a production that brings out the richness of every texture; I bet there are many musicians who drive themselves spare trying to work out how they do it, but for me, Yes are missing the point in the grand style.

I wouldn't suggest that they should limit themselves to "Dust My Blues", but they might give a though to letting a real emotional feel develop by itself instead of trying to force it out by all means known to musical science.

This isn't to say Yes are simply a crowd of pretentious ivory tower people. In amongst the complexities there are some beautiful passages — for example during the second half of Ritual: Nous Sommes Du Soleil — but the subjects they're dealing with demand a more oblique approach, a greater degree of subtlety and down home guts.

Now if Yes were to start off from less grandiose concepts and tame their technique, they'd really be getting somewhere. As they are on 'Tales from Topographic Oceans" they stand as monuments to the perils of progressive music. After all, every Don Quixote needs his Sancho Panza just as every Morecambe needs his Wise.