CLOSE TO THE EDGE

I couldn't resist adding my little piece on this one. Obviously it's getting five stars, this album blows pretty much any other prog efforts completely out of the water and somewhere into the desert. It's a stunning piece from start to finish, and I love it.

Close to the Edge is a song that just doesn't seem possible, so utterly complex and yet it's pulled off with such precision; there's absolutely no doubting the skills in any of these musicians at all. From the frantic intro and the incredible lyrics, it's almost another dimension. The feeling that this song conjures inside of you is intense, it takes you up up up and doesn't bring you down...well, it brings you down a bit, then you're exploded back into the air by the incredible organ solo. Wakeman sure as hell reminds you there ain't just a lead guitarist in this band, there's a lead keyboardist and he AIN'T gettin pushed around. But there's absolutely no pushing or fighting for keyboard/guitar supremacy, and the two blend with each other absolutely perfectly throughout the entire song. The song begins as it ends, with a very "nature" sorta atmosphere, birds tweeting, a river flowing.

And You And I is probably the most beautiful piece of music that I have ever heard and one of my all time favourite songs. Usually a very frantic sounding band, they take it down a bit here, with a lovely little harmonic intro. Throughout the song, the lyrics don't really make much sense, and a lot of the time they're not meant to (I don't think), however they sound perfect, and you almost sorta take meaning for yourself from the lyrics, it's all very beautiful. Wakeman takes control come about halfway with an astounding lead that you can't help but get shivers down your spine when you hear it. It's very much a love song, but sayng that there's always been that slight almost apocalyptic feel to it. Intense stuf, a true masterpiece!

Siberian Khatru, the album closer, wraps up the album with a more upbeat feel. Not a patch on the first two songs, but it does the job, it's a great song an continues the awe-inspiring musicianship that's been present throughout the album. You've got your slide guitar solo, keyboard solos...you'd never see anything like this today, and it's a shame. Whether it's that nobody actually has the skill to do it, or indeed the balls to try it. The weakling of the album, but still a staple Yes song, an incredible piece of music.

So there you go, that's my say done, not that it needed it with hundreds of other reviews, which really goes to back my point that it's just an iconic piece of prog...indeed it's an iconic piece of music, a true great of the 20th century. And might i mention the album art? The simplest, but certainly one of the best Yes covers.

Don't hesitate, listen to this album!