Way back in the day, I remember (so vividly!) buying The Yes Album after seeing them on a UK TV show called Sounding Out. The third LP I ever purchased! So this has been one of my most revered albums for way over 50 years - and remains my favorite by the band. My goodness - and here we have it now on Atmos. On the most basic level - what a miracle, all these years later. And the LP size of the box set, along with the original artwork - it all seems so appropriate, and takes me right back to the original purchase all those years ago. I really like the way they have 'inked' the CDs with pictures of the artists - with Tony Kaye still the main image on the double spread. Excellent...
In terms of my vote - I go 10, as the Atmos is the reason I bought this, and it is a stunning mix which is giving me so much pleasure. For the most part. I was always a bit disappointed with aspects of the original 2014 Wilson blu-ray surround mix of this album. It was overall a wonderful experience - but the start of Yours Is No Disgrace with guitar in front center, and organ across the backs, never quite worked for me. And the same at the end of Starship Trooper - the front/back version of the climactic guitar solos didn't quite hit the mark in the way the old stereo did. On the Atmos, both those bits now sound amazing! More distinctive separation, more power behind the various elements, and terrific presence at those key moments. I love it! Not a replication of the original stereo, but somehow in that spirit entirely. And much more so than the 5.1 mix. And that middle section of Perpetual Change - with the swirling version of one part, and the increasing intensity of the counterpoint? Wow - just brilliant! And I think the front-centric Atmos version of Clap (with concert ambience all around) is a better choice than the fuller 'fake surround ' on the 5.1. But both are great to compare - of course.
However, along the way, I'd go from being super-impressed with the Atmos mix to feeling just a little underwhelmed with the presentation of the grouped voices in e.g. Disgrace and Perpetual Change (around the 'There you are' lyrics). Those 'choral' responses to Anderson's main bits sounded somehow a bit too recessed. I prefer the more 'right there' experience of those elements on the 5.1 version - and the original stereo. And some of Howe's flourishes on Disgrace around the "Battleships' lyrics also sounded a bit less sharp than they did on 5.1. If I was a mixing genius, I'd merge what I feel is best about both mixes. Of course, I am glad to have both! (Also - I'm intrigued about the revisions Wilson made to the 5.1 mix on (quote) "one or two tracks" - which he chooses not to specify in his note about this edition on Page 3 of the booklet. I haven't been able to spot them yet - any ideas?)
Maybe I'm just getting a bit jaded, or harder to please? When Wilson's 2014 set of the Yes Album came out, I had just installed my surround set-up and so it was massively exciting to be getting all these wonderful albums by Yes released around that period.
Beyond the Atmos mix, some other comments: To my surprise once again, given how highly I value Anderson's singing as an integral instrument for the band, I love the instrumental version of the album on CD2 (already available on the 2014 Blu-ray). Throughout it is very rewarding to hear elements of music that were hidden or secondary before. A real treat in fact. Shame it isn't in high def surround on the new blu-ray - but we do have it on the 2014 disc.
Other gripes? Don't need the redundancies between the 2014 and 2023 sets. Don't need the LP. Don't need the very disappointing live Disc 4. Is that the best that they could do? Shame there is still no Bruford era live Starship Trooper. The rarities and mono versions on Disc 3? Meh for the most part - but do appreciate the extended A Venture (though I already have that on the earlier Wilson set) and early take of All Good People - that one is very interesting. Struggled to get the booklet out of and then back into the LP holder - it kept catching on the inner 'circle' of the LP sleeve. Tougher than it should be to get the LP in and out. And the 'holder' for the blu-ray? Seriously - who designs these things?
And, being super-pedantic, on page 3 of the booklet with the note from Steven Wilson, why a picture of the band from the Moraz era - rather than with Kaye? In fact, the 'film clip' pics on the inside covers are also from the wrong era. Ah well...
I wondered about giving it a 9 rather than a 10 given some of my comments above. But when I consider other releases to which I have given top marks, I know that I'll be pulling this one out and enjoying it more frequently than most of the others - and that anticipated pleasure factor is definitely worth the extra point. Rating is tricky of course - and, unsurprisingly, my expectations of this set are inevitably higher than for material I know less well. So, to be fair, at least in my own frame of reference, a 10 it is...
