CLOSE TO THE EDGE

Close to the Edge is a beautiful, extremely complex and very well produced album. Short, very well composed and with no filler moments. Every member of the band was in top form and Wakeman shines even more than in Fragile, making a very advanced work on keyboards and synthesizers which would make a great impact through the years. The end of I Get Up I Get Down sounds like Vangelis's Blade Runner ten years after the release of this soundtrack!

The song Close to the edge is the first true epic of the band and it's an absolute joy of polyrhythms, polymetric passages, polyphonic choirs, cross-beats and very accessible and catchy at the same time. And You and I is mellower, more folk and a bit simpler but equally good, with very spiritual lyrics, another beautiful keyboard work from Wakeman and a great job from Howe in the acoustics. Siberian Kathru is a crazy mixture of world music with oriental melodies, medieval influences and an outstanding instrumental work very influenced by some contemporary jazz fusion bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Best Tracks: every one of the three songs are fantastic!

Conclusion: with the excellent musical and instrumental basis of Fragile, Yes was able to expand their sound with other influences typical of the beginning of the 70's like electronic, jazz fusion and folk creating a true progressive masterpiece full of incredible passages, marvelous musicianship and an outstanding pharaonic production.

One of the best albums in rock music history! And of course, the peak in Yes's career.

My rating: *****

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