Perhaps the most exciting thing about exploring new audio-only Dolby Atmos listening experiences is the realization that the engineers behind them are just starting to really get their heads around the medium’s potential. Certainly, producer Stephen Wilson, who has helmed many of the best surround mixes of the past 15 or so years, keeps improving on what he does.
This includes his work on the excellent new super deluxe edition 50th Anniversary (5 CD, 1LP, 1 Blu-ray) package from Rhino/Warner Music Group celebrating Yes’ 1972 master work, Close To The Edge. A milllion-selling prog-rock masterpiece, the album reached the #3 spot on the Billboard 200 chart back in the day.
The prior 2013 1CD/1Blu-ray edition of Close To The Edge included Wilson’s excellent 5.1 surround mix. Great as that is, his new Atmos work greatly expands the Yes surround experience. After one initial listen, I liked it so much that I suspect it might become a demo disc for some home theater enthusiasts.
So many great moments to highlight, I could ramble on much more than the space I have here. Most importantly, this Atmos mix sounds like Close To The Edge but in a more three dimensional manner. I love how Wilson presents Rick Wakeman’s gigantic title track pipe organ segments as appropriately huge. Bill Bruford’s drums are also delivered with realistic grandeur, offering height and presence without overwhelming the music blend. Incredible atmospherics dabbled throughout help you envision floating downstream in one of Roger Dean’s surrealist universes gracing the covers of many Yes albums.
I like the Blu-ray disc’s classy design with Roger Dean’s iconic Yes lettering. In this set’s only significant production misstep, the other discs don’t reproduce this classic Yes logo — including the vinyl. I point it out because Close To The Edge was the first Yes album to feature the group’s now trademark logo, so it should have been on every disc.
Audio legend Bernie Grundman’s new vinyl remaster of Close To The Edge is solid. I’m not yet sure what source was used (analog tapes vs. Hi-Res digital), but it sounds better than my 1970s German pressing. I have inquired and if Rhino responds I’ll update this review accordingly.
In this package we also get many CDs packed with rarities, some previously unreleased. I was pleased to see the “dry mix” of “America” included finally (it only appeared on a UK Atlantic Records sampler LP back in 1972). Two CDs feature a good quality soundboard recording of Yes live on the Close To The Edge tour. Despite some inevitable imperfections (including a couple obvious tape-splice glitch-patches in the form of reversed music), its cool to hear the band an an early live peak — a rocking performance.
Anyhow, now I can’t wait for Steven Wilson’s (hopeful? eventual?) Dolby Atmos remix of Yes’ follow-on album, Tales From Topographic Oceans. Believe it or not, that is my all-time favorite Yes album and one of my top 5 favorite recordings ever! For real, even over the masterpiece that is Close To The Edge… but that’s another story for another time. All that said, if you love Yes and immersive audio, you’ll want to get this 50th anniversary edition before it sells out.
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
