CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Close To The Edge is probably one of the most reviewed albums on PA and rightly so. It has positively affected so many progressive rock music lovers since 1972. This being my first review I felt I had to say a few words about my favorite album of all time.

The first song I heard from this album was And You And I. I had never heard of Yes before. It was the summer of 1972 and I was driving through the countryside on a warm sunny day. This song came on the radio and no indication was made on who the artist was. The music struck me as so original and uplifting it melded with my view of that beautiful day. It was music that made you feel all would be well with the world. I later learned that the band was Yes.

So 38 years later this music still moves me and brings me back to the innocence of growing up in 1972. It is music that can be listened over and over and new subtleties can still come to the surface. The story of the composing and recording of Close To The Edge is also quite amazing. Finding time in between gigging to piece together minute by minute and track by track of this melodic and intricate work was nothing short of astounding. There are many adjectives that can describe it's beauty but I'll only use one: FLOW . The dynamics and ebb and 'FLOW' of this album for me are perfection. The whole epic is like embarking on an adventure and the end climaxes in a musical fulfillment that leaves me in a totally positive frame of mind.

Siberian Khatru is such a great close to the album in that it rocks, has recurring dynamic themes, builds tension, great counterpoint guitar and keyboard playing, and amazing vocal harmonies. I realize other reviewers have described the details of the music to a much finer degree but I feel great music touches us in ways that sometimes cannot be described subjectively . CTTE is an album that has become part of who I am and I would think to be an artist and achieve that affect on so many people has to be about the greatest reward for creating such a wonderful work.