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Rating:
Bill, Jon, Steve, Chris, Rick: you couldn't have done all this just for profit or thirst for glory.
You did it also for us, to gift the sensitive part of Humanity rare moments of intense emotions.
Jon Anderson: a sweet voice dedicated to rock, an unmistakable trademark
Bill Bruford: the greatest in progressive, and not only: that delicate touch, so at ease with odd times and countertimes
Steve Howe: a great like few others, a virtuosic artist of guitars of all kinds
Chris Squire: the one who divinely animated an instrument that until then simply kept the beat
Rick Wakeman: legendary spiller of notes and chords riding keys and pedals.
"Close To The Edge": where each of Them has something to say, and together forge a blend that reaches the pinnacle of Music. Those drops falling into their own element, returning to it, sounds precursors of a style that will come. That intense green fading to black, those fabulous landscapes.
Fantastic? Wonderful? Splendid? Magnificent? Does a single adjective that sums it all up not yet exist? Let's invent one for "Close To The Edge".
Not a review, I admit, but a tribute to the most beautiful progressive rock album and to its extraordinary creators.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Close to the Edge: I. The Solid Time of Change / II. Total Mass Retain / III. I Get Up I Get Down / IV. Seasons of Man (18:45)
02 And You and I: I. Cord of Life / II. Eclipse / III. The Preacher The Teacher / IV. Apocalypse (10:11)
03 Siberian Khatru (08:54)
(Anderson/Howe/Wakeman)
Sing, bird of prey;
Beauty begins at the foot of you. Do you believe the manner?
Gold stainless nail,
Torn through the distance of man
As they regard the summit.
Even Siberia goes through the motions.
Hold out and hold up;
Hold down the window. Outbound, river,
Hold out the morning that comes into view. Bluetail, tailfly.
River running right on over my head.
How does she sing?
Who holds the ring? And ring and you will find me coming.
Cold reigning king,
Hold all the secrets from you
As they produce the movement.
Even Siberia goes through the motions.
Hold out and hold up;
Hold down the window. Outbound, river,
Hold out the morning that comes into view. Bluetail, tailfly.
River running right over the outboard, river,
Bluetail, tailfly,
Luther, in time.
Dood'ndoodit, dah, d't-d't-dah.
Hold down the window;
Hold out the morning that comes into view.
Warm side, the tower;
Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru.
Gold stainless nail,
Torn through the distance of man as they regard the summit.
Cold reigning king,
Shelter the women that sing
As they produce the movement.
River running right on over,
Then over my head. Outboard, river.
Bluetail, tailfly,
Luther, in time,
Suntower, asking,
Cover, lover,
June cast, moon fast,
As one changes,
Heart gold, leaver,
Soul mark, mover,
Christian, changer,
Called out, saviour,
Moon gate, climber,
Turn round, glider.
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Other reviews
By MuSo
Few artists are fortunate enough to create a work that transcends its time.
Close To The Edge is certainly one of the best (if not the best) of Yes's albums, which every lover of progressive should own.
By Progressive86
"Yes truly transcend the edge of their artistic creation, giving birth to one of the great monuments in the history of progressive rock."
"Siberian Khatru... creates a mental state of exhaustion, one of the most entrancing tracks by Yes."
By paolofreddie
"Close to the Edge has something magical, something that transports me to another world, to a fantastic universe from which I would not want to leave."
"This is the music of heaven or at least it should be!"
