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Rating:
"Few artists are fortunate enough to create a work that transcends its time."
I think no sentence describes "Close To The Edge" better than this one, taken from the CD booklet.
As soon as you insert the disc into the player and press play, you indeed enter another world.
The title track is introduced by a magical chirping of birds, in an ascending climax, at the end of which Yes break in with mastery thanks to the drums (more precise than a Swiss watch) of Bill Bruford and the divinely played guitar of Steve Howe. Before reaching the end of The Solid Time Of Change, the first of the four parts of the song, Yes give us an incredible and schizophrenic guitar solo accompanied by Bill's drumming, interrupted several times by a chorus, typical of Yes.
Next is Total Mass Retain, a piece where the extraordinary voice of Jon Anderson stands out, and together with Steve's guitar creates a fabulous and energetic piece that transforms into I Get Up I Get Down. This part of the track, where Jon's voice and Rick Wakeman's organ take the lead, seems almost like a reflective pause that then leads the song to transform and return to the initial musical semblance with Seasons Of Man, which obviously ends with the same chirping that introduces the song 18 minutes earlier, which, believe me, go by very quickly.
The second track is And You And I, a majestic and engaging 10-minute song, in which Jon Anderson's vocal cords give their best. Over the course of the 10 minutes, Yes give us continuous "explosions" of vitality and grandeur.
It would be difficult to describe the third and final track with adjectives different from those used before.
Siberian Khatru is simply irresistible, Yes's technique superb and the rhythm captivating.
The last part of the song is a kind of "fast version" of the previously played motif, executed as only Yes know how.
The only criticism of the album is the limited presence of Rick Wakeman's keyboards.
To conclude, 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.
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 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 mauro60
You did it also for us, to gift the sensitive part of Humanity rare moments of intense emotions.
Does a single adjective that sums it all up not yet exist? Let’s invent one for 'Close To The Edge.'
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!"
