CLOSE TO THE EDGE

This album mostly showcases the 5 members at the height of their technical powers, Bill Bruford gives his last jazzy feel to a Yes record, Chris Squire delivers great basslines with one of rock's greatest bass tones, Rick Wakeman plays his keyboards (Hammond organ, Mellotron, pipe organ, minimoog, harpsichord, whatever) just on point, always playing the exact amount of notes to shine and not to overpower his other bandmates (As he and Howe love to do in later records), Steve Howe shows an extense arsenal of guitars, slide guitars, acoustics and sitars, with a jazz- folk feel, and Jon Anderson just sings like an angel, his high pitched voice is never strained so its actually pleasing to listen to, his lyrics are weird but work as sounds, and his harmony vocals with Chris Squire and Steve Howe, while not Beach Boys-awesome, they are good, almost on a Crosby, Stills and Nash level.

The album only has 3 tracks and it's kinda short, beginning with the classic title track, which goes from coarse dissonances, to chill verses and choruses that sound so classic rock, the organ section which sounds like a mix of Beach Boys and Minecraft music which has a tender feel until the organ comes on very loud on the mix, showing how big and grand a pipe organ is, to reprise the verse and choruses, but with a great keyboard solo by Wakeman. A great piece that takes it's time to grow into its music.

"And You And I" is an slow listen, but the folk Jimmy Page-like 12 string acoustic guitars, Wakeman's sci-fi minimoogs and Anderson's voice sound like a folk space love religious ballad. My least favourite track but most people love it.

"Siberian Khatru" is the most accesible song, with great guitars by Steve Howe, an awesome baroque duo by Wakeman and Squire, funky and agressive bass playing by Squire, and great vocal hooks by Anderson, whose vocal harmonies near the end of the song singing just sounds is easily my favourite Yes moment.

This is maybe a top 3 record by Yes, but most regard it as one of the cornerstones or ultimate prog albums, which I do not but I understand that posture, it is still a great listen and a must in any progressive journey.

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