With “Close to the Edge”, Yes cemented their place as one of the world's leading progressive rock bands, alongside ELP, Genesis, and Pink Floyd, with an outstanding work showcasing complex compositions brimming with unprecedented sounds. A perfect album where every note is perfectly placed, and the ambition, complexity, and virtuosity of its five members elevate it to the status of a work of art.
Composed of three extensive tracks, the first side features the suite “Close to the Edge”, 18 minutes of meticulously crafted music with hundreds of nuances and continuous rhythmic shifts, all executed with absolute instrumental precision. The second side presents the delicate yet intricate “And You and I”, which begins acoustically and gradually builds to more energetic and epic moments. To conclude, we have the powerful and forceful "Siberian Kathru", the shortest track at nine minutes, yet it maintains the same parameters as the previous songs, with continuous interludes between energetic and bucolic passages, culminating in a total instrumental ecstasy.
This album is essential listening for all progressive rock fans, a work considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of rock music.
