CLOSE TO THE EDGE

My first contact with this record was in 1978. In highschool we had this "Accounting" teacher from the Netherlands who's name was Mr.Dykstra, he told us lots of great stories about the country he was from, but who also kept a record player in his class which we were allowed to use when he was finished giving his lesson. All the albums were his, and they included this one as well as ELP, PINK FLOYD, JETHRO TULL and other prog records. I didn't have the appreciation then as I do now of this style of music, but it's pretty amazing looking back on it. First thing i'd like to say about this record is the incredible amount of mellotron that Rick Wakeman used, it's all over the place and only adds to the majesty.

What I like most about the side long track "Close To The Edge" are the songs within the song, and the bass playing of Chris Squire. We start to hear the sounds of birds chirping as the sound builds. It kicks in around a minute. Check out Bruford then Squire as Howe amazes us all as well. There's that famous melody 3 minutes in, vocals a minute later. It feels so good after 5 minutes. Huge bass lines here. A calm with mellotron 8 1/2 minutes in. Reserved vocals come in after 10 minutes, organ 2 minutes later. It kicks back in after 14 minutes. Huge bass as Wakeman impresses. Vocals are back 16 minutes in. The birds are back to end it. .

My favourite song is "And You And I". Acoustic guitar turns into strummed guitar and synths. Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. An absolutely gorgeous section comes in before 4 minutes. Anderson's vocals sound great 5 minutes in.That melancholic acoustic guitar is back before 6 minutes as some themes are repeated. I like the sad synths 8 minutes in. I really like the way Steve Howe plays in the intro of "Siberian Khatru". Nice fat bass lines come in, then Wakeman comes in followed by Anderson. Mellotron after 4 1/2 minutes. It settles 5 1/2 minutes in as the mellotron rolls in. Vocal melodies arrive as well.

Clearly this is one of the best albums ever made, and in my opinion YES' second best after "Fragile".