Now Spinning Music Magazine - Artist Interviews and Music Reviews · Phil Aston

YES – Tales From Topographic Oceans: The Definitive Box Set Reviewed

·29 min·1 clip

On a 5.1 system, Astin hears John Anderson behind him and Chris Squire, Alan White, and Rick Wakeman all around him.

1. Now Spinning Music Magazine reviews Yes's "Tales from Topographic Oceans: The Definitive Box Set" as an unboxing and playback review of the 1973 album. 2. Phil Astin presents himself as the host, reviewer, and unboxer, and he says he already owned earlier versions, including the 2016 definitive edition. 3. The episode asks whether the 2026 super deluxe edition is worth buying when the 2016 version already exists. 4. Astin opens the box in real time and lists the contents: Blu-ray, remastered CDs, vinyl, booklet, rarities discs, and live recordings. 5. He identifies the Blu-ray as containing the 2026 Dolby Atmos mix, 5.1 mix, stereo mix, stereo remaster, and instrumental mix. 6. He says the CDs include the remastered original album, the Steve Wilson remixes, and instrumental remixes spread across multiple discs. 7. He names live material from the Free Trade Hall, Cardiff, and Halmstad, Switzerland, and says the set contains the whole story of the album. 8. He notes that the booklet includes the original gatefold sleeve, a new essay on the album, recording techniques, production choices, and track-by-track analysis. 9. He says the booklet also prints original liner notes from Jon Anderson and covers Rick Wakeman's departure and its fallout. 10. He argues that the box design follows Rhino and Warner's style used for Yes and The Doors releases, but he finds it fiddly in daily use. 11. He compares the package with Chris Squire's "Fish Out of Water" box because that set pulls out from the center more easily. 12. He says the vinyl, booklet, and Blu-ray placement make repeated access awkward for people who play physical media often. 13. He places the album in 1973 alongside Slade, T. Rex, The Sweet, Deep Purple, Sabbath, and Zeppelin in his own listening history. 14. He recalls first hearing the album on a newly digitized remaster and later on a two-CD remastered version. 15. He says the new Dolby Atmos mix sounds exceptional on his 5.1 system, with John Anderson behind him and Chris Squire, Alan White, and Rick Wakeman around him. 16. He says the live recordings sound strong and challenges his old assumption that Yes live material could be rough around the edges. 17. The tone is personal, evaluative, and technical, with frequent detours into format, shelf design, and listening setup. 18. The format is a spoken review that mixes unboxing commentary, historical context, and track-specific listening notes. 19. Fans of Yes, progressive rock, and deluxe box sets will get the most from this episode. 20. Casual listeners who want only a brief album verdict may skip it.

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