CLOSE TO THE EDGE

fcoulter, April 16, summed up my feelings as well in a nutshell. Perhaps nothing is ever perfect, but this is the closest thing to perfection in prog (circa 1972!) that one can get. Whereas some have wondered about the musicality of the album, it is all there. Maybe synthesized birdsounds can get annoying, but it sure was novel for the day. Also, on the title track, Wakeman's Mander pipe organ solo is prophetic of the Swiss church organ playing yet to come on Going For the One (GFTO - 1977). 'And You and I' is not a boring song, and it is because of Bruford's inspired drumming (among other things), changing cadences with precision as one would adjust a metronome - truly amazing, and powerful. 'Khatru' captures the blues intensity of Howe's guitar playing, again a prelude to the blues inspirations that make 'Awaken' on GFTO my all-time favorite Yes song. Perhaps I err by not giving this album a perfect mark, but it registers 4.9 out of 5 for sure.