CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Yes

Symphonic Prog

4.68 | 5159 ratings

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crimson87
Prog Reviewer

The essential album of Progressive Rock

Brain Salad surgery is my favourite prog album of all time but I guess it would be fair that for the general public to say that Close to the Edge is the most representative prog album of all time. This album's main feature is that it has an amazing athmosphere and it changes moods very often , from pasoral to agressive from rough to dreamy and etc. Probably the main example of this may be the title track , one of the best in the genre. Features an amazing introduction which is really energetic and technical ( and has nothing to envy of ELP's Eruption) Jon Anderson's voice shines through this tune and the same can be say about Wakeman's synths my favourite part is the I get up / get down segment that has some beutiful vocal harmonies. A landmark in progressive rock without a doubt.

I like to call And you And I as a little cute epic. While not as grandiose as CTTE this ten minute acoustic song features one of the most emotional moments in progressive rock: At 3:47 and the main guilty of that is Mr Wakeman , that mellotron is anthemic! The closing track Siberian Khatu does not have the epic feel the previous ones had in spades , it looks like a song from the Yes Album but much better. There is some incredible bass playing and vocal work on this tune. Plus I love it being that it's somewhat funky.

Finally I'd like to state that this is not my favourite Yes Album , that award goes to the following release and that Close to the Edge is not my favourite Yes epic. That one is The Gates of Delirium , but we ll have time to analyze that in other ocassion.

This record is esential for newcomers to see what prog is all about.

crimson87 | 5/5 | 2009-1-24

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