CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Yes Close to the Edge was like a door opening for a new world of musical possibilities, when I first heard it back in the early 1990's. Now, looking back, I guess I am able to verbalize some of the qualities, impressions and feeling imprinted in my musical brain ever since.

The sheer reunion of such stature musicians as Anderson, Bruford, Squire, Wakeman and Howe, then coming from a stint maturing process from the also well succeeded Fragile album recording, makes this a heavy weight musical configuration only matched maybe by other bands such as Genesis, Floyd and Rush...

The ethereal opening for the title track (very sinestesic with the grading spectrum degradé in the cover art), with it's torrential stream of energy in the intro guitar solo, with stunning accompaniment by Bruford (with his amazing and freely creative poly-tempo subdivisions) and the contrasting keyboard and bass background is an advancement of the journey the listener is about to embark on.

Side A ends leaving the audient wondering what just happened...

Side 2 opens with magic in form of musical notes in what is maybe one of the most gorgeous compositions ever written for a Rock band, And you and I.

The album proceeds to end the voyage with a 100% score in the weighted awesomeness index with a powerful song about bird of preys with gold stainless nails... What could I ask for more...