Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Yes - Close to the Edge CD (album) cover

CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Yes

 

Symphonic Prog

4.68 | 5061 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Kazuhiro
Prog Reviewer
4 stars It will be able to be said that the flow that reaches this album is one historical masterpiece of Prog Rock that exactly represents the 70 year in the history of the music of Yes. Ideas of men who can listen by "Fragile" and artistic ideas are guessed that the idea of Jon Anderson and Steve Howe came out to some degree strongly at the same time as bringing dramatic improvements in further in this album. And, the attempt of the method and ensemble for the band to express the idea concretely will have been the legends already in the recording.

Some elements can be enumerated as a point to talk about this album. Processing of perfect work by producer's Eddie Offord. And, the fact to which the period of the production of the album is done including the rehearsal at the period of about two months when thinking about the flow of the tour that started after the production of this album. These might be the parts in which it should work on the realization of the idea in union with parties concerned the band.

And, beautiful album Art drawn by Roger Dean might have offered a new change and the creation to the impression of the work of Yes till then. The processing of the gradation based on forest green might have become one of the important factors for the band and the listener.

And, the method of actually recording this album might have included the method of processing the tape. Method of band's having done performance repeatedly to part of recording that Jon Anderson and Steve Howe did to some degree. Or, it is partial where the small knot of an actual tune is delimited and the composition is reviewed. Work to remove the failing part and for the fragment of the tune to tie in detail will have been a result of the producer and the band. At that time, this recording method will have been work that heat shut oneself up as the processing of the recording of other bands. It is said that the band was putting "L'Oiseau de Feu" of Stravinsky on the mind for producing this album. Idea and thought that should be described with this album. And, the method of processing the sound and the height of the composition power are still talked about as a work of the highest peak in the field of Prog Rock.

"Close To The Edge" is making of the melody that gets twisted complexly and the sound of the keyboard. And, perfect SE is introduced. The band advances in union. It is said that "Siddhartha" that Hermann Hesse of the writer in Germany announced is an origin in this tune. Progressing the tune not to be able to forecast by unifying it to the philosophical lyrics might be exactly progressive music. The idea of the bold introduction of Solo of the organ etc. when the part in the back and forth doesn't function well as a flow of the tune that ties at the stage of the edit of the tape by Eddie Offord has succeeded and the width of the tune has been expanded greatly. The idea is completely reflected in the tune and unfolds a perfect element as an album.

The element to feel the deployment of a pastoral part and the space of "And You And I" might be splendid. It is one of the tunes that they represent this tune. Various elements are extracted in the flow of the album, it reflects, and a mysterious part is produced. Making and the composition of a grand sound will have a moving flow. Especially, the theme with the guitar might be impressive. And, the work of Rick Wakeman that made a variegated sound completely established the sound of the band.

The flow of Rock of "Siberian Khatru" might be a tune with the element reflected in the following work at the same time as showing the establishment of the sound of the band. "Khatru" can be translated into "Remain though it hopes" in the word in south Yemen. It succeeds in unification to a religion and philosophical lyrics and the establishment of the meaning of this album. The performance that men who had splendidly reflected the concept of this album in the tune while following the flow from "Fragile" in a good meaning did might have become one of the histories of Prog Rock.

They might have surely received one the top by this album. And, the sound as the band is established to some degree and brings dramatic improvements in further.

Kazuhiro | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this YES review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.