Yes
Close to the Edge - Atlantic 1972
1. Close to the Edge i. The Solid Time of Change ii. Total Mass Retain iii. I Get Up I Get Down iv. Seasons of Man / 2. And You and I i. Cord of Life ii. Eclipse iii. The Preacher the Teacher iv. The Apocalypse / 3. Siberian Khatru
Comments:
“Close to the Edge” is the second of my big favorite Yes albums. The other is the predecessor "Fragile", which was released the year before in 1971. The line-up in relation to "Close to the Edge" was the same with Anderson, Squire, Howe, Bruford and Wakeman, and what they built up in musical cohesion was expanded further on “Close to the Edge”.
The songs here are long and complex, where on "Fragile", there were more and shorter songs, among which several also consisted of various musical pieces and complex structures.
The title track "Close to the Edge", which fills the entire first side of the vinyl version, consists of four pieces, which do offer recurring melodies from previous sequences in an almost symphonically structured way. The composition contains all the best of what Yes can offer. Great melodic pieces sung convincingly by Jon Anderson with fine harmony-vocal backing from Squire and Howe. Brilliant instrumental playing from the band who on their individual instruments all are virtuosos
Side two opens with the equally beautiful "And You and I". Here again, there are very catchy vocal passages, surprising breaks, crisp acoustic guitars and an overall sound not unlike the early Genesis.
Less melodic and more complex is "Siberian Khatru", which of course also contains many of the same virtues as the album's two very big compositions.
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