Steven Wilson Breathes New Life into Yes’s Oceanic Masterpiece: A Three-Year Remix Journey

In February 2026, the Rhino label is scheduled to release a Super Deluxe Edition of one of the most daring and debated albums in the history of progressive rock: Tales From Topographic Oceans by the legendary band Yes. This is far from a standard reissue; it represents a profound return to a work where music is explored through the dimensions of space, spirit, and time.

Originally released on December 7, 1973, in the United Kingdom, this sixth studio album by Yes was a landmark moment. It served as the first recording featuring drummer Alan White, who had recently replaced Bill Bruford, marking a significant shift in the band's lineup and creative trajectory.

The ambitious scale of the project was a leap into the unknown. The core concept for the album was born from the spiritual quest of frontman Jon Anderson, who found a spark of inspiration in a footnote within Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi.

This specific reference mentioned the four Shastras, which are ancient Hindu philosophical texts. In Indian philosophy, these Shastras are not viewed as rigid dogmas but rather as a comprehensive map for the various paths of human existence, ranging from daily actions to spiritual liberation.

The album was meticulously structured so that each of its four expansive compositions corresponds to one of these philosophical paths. The first, Dharma, represents the cosmic order and the concept of righteous action within the universe.

The second path, Artha, focuses on the complexities of social structure and the material world. This is followed by Kāma, which explores the creative energies of desire and love, and finally Mokṣa, which deals with the ultimate liberation and the transcendence of the ego.

Through this design, the album functions as a musical mandala. Each of the four sides of the original vinyl represents a different level of human experience, coming together to create a unified journey of consciousness where music becomes a tool for meditation.

At the time of its debut, Tales From Topographic Oceans deeply divided the music press. While some critics were overwhelmed by its length and conceptual depth, others praised it for a level of artistic courage that was entirely without precedent in the rock world.

Despite the critical debate, the album was a commercial success, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and reaching the number six spot in the United States. It eventually achieved gold status, proving that there was a massive audience for such complex musical ideas.

The recording process took place at Morgan Studios, where the band utilized the very first 24-track recording machine in the UK. This technological advancement allowed Yes to build a massive, oceanic soundscape that was previously impossible to capture.

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman was famously critical of the project’s scale and duration, even distancing himself from the material for a time. However, this internal creative friction has only added to the album's mystique over the decades.

The new Super Deluxe Edition is an exhaustive collection consisting of 12 CDs, 2 LPs, and a Blu-ray disc, featuring several key components:

• Brand-new remixes by Steven Wilson, including a specialized version mixed in Dolby Atmos for a fully immersive experience.
• Previously unreleased live recordings from performances in Manchester in November 1973 and Zurich in April 1974.
• An exclusive lithograph by Roger Dean, the artist whose iconic covers are synonymous with the Yes aesthetic.

Steven Wilson spent nearly three years working on these remixes. His objective was not to modernize the album in a way that lost its soul, but to clarify its intricate internal architecture while maintaining the monumental atmosphere of the original era.

This project is a continuation of Wilson’s long-standing collaboration with the Yes archives. He has previously applied his expertise to other classic albums in their catalog, including The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Relayer.

In an era defined by short-form content and rapid consumption, the return of Tales From Topographic Oceans serves as a vital reminder of the value of "slow listening." These are compositions that cannot be understood in passing.

Epic tracks such as The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) require the listener's full attention and a significant investment of time. They are designed to be experienced as a whole, rather than as fragmented parts of a playlist.

This reissue is not merely a gesture of nostalgia or a historical curiosity. It is an open invitation to re-enter an ocean of sound where music functions as a map for consciousness and a legitimate form of spiritual experience.

Topographic Oceans is an album that remains timeless, waiting for a moment when the world is ready to listen to its message in full. It challenges the listener to engage with music on a deeper, more contemplative level.

As we look toward 2026, Yes reminds us that to move forward into the future, it is sometimes necessary to return to the deepest and most profound waters of our creative past.