CLOSE TO THE EDGE

This is probably the 100th or so review for Close to the Edge, so it may not make an incredible impact, but at least I'll get my opinion out there. Close to the Edge is Yes's best album. Every second of it is euphoria. The members of Yes are truly at their peak on Close to the Edge, and the note-perfect musicianship and clever and catchy songwriting is evident of this.

To begin, the title track is gorgeous and sprawling. It begins in with the solitude and sounds of nature. Soon, an eruption of random notes and jarring rhythms comes about and leads into a challenging and galloping verse. A beautiful middle break emerges, and once again the peace and solitude of the first minute is restored. The verse is ushered back in by a majestic organ and the song ends as it began, with a swirling, misty peace emerging from verse's tumultuous thunderstorm. Certainly the lyrics can be a big attraction and one can speculate on their meaning forever. And they are very good, by the way.

"And You And I" is next, and is the best song on Close to the Edge, perhaps even Yes's greatest song. The introductory acoustic guitar harmonics bring a soothing mood and set the pace for the track. A simple acoustic pattern is repeated throughout the verse giving the bass a bit of room, while Jon's voice is the main draw. But truly, the instrumental break is the best part and is one of my favorite few minutes in all of prog. Wakeman is superb and always plays what is necessary, nothing more, and Howe's slide guitar effectively supports the melody. "And You And I" is the better resolution to the epic chaos of "Close to the Edge."

Whereas "And You And I" was meditative and subdued, "Siberian Khatru" is joyous and rollicking. Yes get even more adventurous, using a sitar and harpsichord! Well, they work surprisingly well, and only serve to enhance the experience. To be honest, I have no idea what "Siberian Khatru" is about! The lyrics are seemingly nonsensical, but perhaps there is a deeper meaning I'm not getting. No matter, the music is excellent and that is what matters the most (to me).

Well, there you go. Close to the Edge is Yes's best album, and quite likely the best in all of progdom. Listen and enjoy.