CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Essential - masterpiece - classic. Some of the most overused, and wrongly used, words in the English language. But, seriously, do they all apply here in spades or what? I remember buying this album back in '72 having enjoyed The Yes Album and Fragile, and being thoroughly confused - the first few times I played it, I just didn't know what to make of it all (only three tracks??!!), and would scurry back to my Wishbone Ash and Deep Purple albums in order to recover some sense of reality. But something kept drawing me back to it, and when the penny did finally drop, it turned out to be a life-altering experience (music-wise).

I became convinced that this was not only the best Yes album, but the best album in the history of the Universe and all of it's peoples (cosmic!). Hyperbole? Perhaps, but to this day nothing I've heard surpasses it. Or even comes close.

The title track is, in my view, Prog's Meisterwork, from the opening dawn chorus through to the blistering Hammond solo backed with Bruford's stunning percussion and the back-to-nature conclusion. And if AYAI and Khatru pale by comparison, it's only because they're just near-perfect.

Make your arguments for "Selling England" or "Dark Side" or "Crimson King" if you will - it would, after all, be boring if we all thought the same - but for me this is THE one against which all others should be judged. Five stars? And the rest ...