CLOSE TO THE EDGE

It's no wonder that this album is the highest rated on the website - an absolute masterpiece of progressive rock: Close To The Edge - Yes.

Starting with the cover, Roger Dean's minimalist green artwork fits in brilliantly to the tropical sounds heard at the start of the album. The title track of "Close To The Edge" has at least something for every prog rock fan out there. The long songs, the strange time signatures, the intriguing chord progressions, the heavenly harmonies, the profound lyrics, the underrated musicianships, the intricate production, the incredible sound effects, it has it all. The vast variety of instruments and musical genres that can be found within the track (and the rest of the album) including Howe's bluesy lap-steel and Wakeman's baroque organ. The sound of the album was captured at just the right time, when all of the band members worked together at their best.

After the near-19-minute epic of "Close To The Edge", the 10-minute song "And You And I" is heard (my favourite prog rock love song of all time). The imagery found in the lyrics is just simply beautiful. "And you and I called over valleys of endless seas". The following song "Siberian Khatru" has a more funky feel, but still keeping the progressive rock elements, with bars of 15/8 and those luxurious lap-steel and harpsichord solos. Out of all the pieces on the album, I'd say that it's probably the most definite and structured and brings the whole album home excellently.

A+ (low). The best album by one of the best progressive rock bands of all time.

Close To The Edge - ***** And You And I - ***** Siberian Khatru - *****

(Some rough spots throughout the album are what make it a low A+ rather than a high one)