CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Visual aspect : Too bad, the cover is just a declined green, with the band 'bibendum' logo and the 'bibendum' title. Fortunately, there are some very beautiful pictures inside and in the booklet. I particularly love the majestic central picture, showing a lake circulated by precipices, and the photograph on which we see the band at rehearsal. That's the real Yes at work !

Lyrics : Anderson is a marvellous composer, even if I do not understand everything (since English is not my first language). But some verses are incredibly majestic and are quite 'everlasting'. For example :

"[...] A dewdrop can exalt us like the music of the sun [...] Crossed a line around the changes of the summer Reaching out to call the colour of the sky [...] There's you, the time, the logic, or the reasons we don't understand [...] As we cross from side to side we hear the total mass retain [...] On the hill we viewed the silence of the valley ----> this is my fave part, a real 'fermata' Called to witness cycles only of the past [...]" - CLOSE TO THE EDGE

"[...] Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid Emotion revealed as the ocean maid All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you [...] A clearer future, morning, evening, nights with you [...] And you and I climb crossing the shapes of the morning, And you and I reach over the sun for the river, And you and I climb, clearer, towards the movement, And you and I called over valleys of endless seas." - AND YOU AND I

I gave 4 points out of 5 for the lyrics. The lost point is related to the fact that Anderson always arranged words to sound good, sometimes damping the signification down.

The compositions are faultless. Whether you love Close To The Edge or not, I think you'll agree on this point.

Instruments diversity : Yes is a "democratic" band, every member has his word. On this album, each one adds his part to create a masterpiece.

Tracks personal appreciation : Close To The Edge : I get carried by the progressive expositions. First, it seems you enter in a wild jungle, don't know where you go, but you're lucky, Squire knows it. The bass gradually goes higher and higher, we could think it's going to blow out, but the crescendo stops on time. An other great moment is of course the Wakeman's baroque solo more or less amidst the track, with Anderson's voice reaching highest notes. And You And I : my favourite track on the album. The Mellotron is very well used to express the ascension feeling (see lyrics). Siberian Kathru : it sounds like a journey. I love the main theme rehearsal throughout the track.

Instruments contribution : as explained above, each one gives something to the atmosphere. Squire's loud bass shows the way, Howe's guitar is a virtuosity demonstration (and the acoustic one is very beautiful on And You And I for instance). Wakeman's keyboards are inextricable with the atmosphere on the three tracks. Anderson is brilliant, so is Bruford, what can I say ? This is, in my opinion, a masterpiece.

Prog level : the tracks are at the same prog level. No pop sound, real experimentation here. Each track contains themes rehearsals, sound research and majestic moments crystallised in And You And I crescendo. One of the best prog sound I have ever heard.

Personal notation in prog history : of course 5 on 5, Close To The Edge was voted number one on Progarchives a few years ago. This is a sufficient piece of evidence.

Bonus : this album is a source of inspiration since decades. When I discovered it I was "in heaven", one thing I especially like in prog is epics. Here I got three ones.

Visual aspect : 3/4 Lyrics : 4/5 Length : 1/1 Compositions quality : 10/10 Instruments diversity : 5/5

Tracks personal appreciation : 1/ Close o The Edge 5/5 2/ And You And I 5/5 3/ Siberian Kathru 5/5 Total : 20/20

Bass contribution : 3/3 ) Drums contribution : 3/3 ) Guitar(s) contribution : 3/3 ) Keyboards contribution : 3/3 ) Voice(s) contribution : 3/3 ) Total : 10/10

"Prog" level : 10/10 Personal notation in prog history : 5/5 Bonus (epics) : 4/5

TOTAL : 73/76 TOTAL ON TWENTY : 19,21/20 NUMBER OF STARS : 5/5

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