Number 55: Close to the Edge by Yes
Release: September 13th, 1972
Genre: Prog Rock
Favorite Tracks: Close to the Edge, And You and I, Siberian Khatru
Where I heard it:
Coincidentally, I began my adventure into the progressive rock genre right around the same time that I started experimenting with jazz cigarettes. I was amazed at the parallels between prog and classical music, which I was heavily exposed to in high school band class. While I gravitated toward prog legends like Rush and Pink Floyd, Yes was a band I slept on until well after I graduated. I was generally familiar with their sound from their song Roundabout, a track I first played on Rock Band 3 in 2011 that later gained massive popularity for its association with the 'To Be Continued...' meme. I was captivated by Roundabout's collective complexity, but didn't delve into the gargantuan catalog of Yes until around 2016 when my love for prog was in full bloom. I chose to listen to Close to the Edge in an effort to find songs that captured the magic of Roundabout. However, I discovered Close to the Edge isn't anything like Roundabout. It's something even greater.
Close to the edge
Down by the river
Down at the end
Round by the corner
Now that it's all over and done
Called to the seed
Right to the sun
Now that you find
Now that you're whole
Seasons will pass you by
I get up
I get down
~ Close to the Edge
What to expect:
Inspired by themes from spiritual literature and sounds of symphonic classics, Yes are one of the most collectively talented yet critically underrated bands to emerge from the English prog rock explosion of the early 70's, featuring legendary groups like Genesis, Jethro Tull, and King Crimson. In fact, the pressure of increased competition in the music scene fueled the success of Yes' early catalog, challenging the band to write stronger material with every new album. Only 9 months following their breakout record Fragile, Yes released Close to the Edge, an album that many consider the group's magnum opus. Featuring three epic arrangements, Close to the Edge opens with its sweeping orchestral epic title track. There's so much to unpack within this song, even for die hard prog heads...so let's begin, shall we? This song (and really the album as a whole) loosely describes the story of Herman Hesse's Siddhartha, a novel about Buddhist-style enlightenment through the protagonist's life journey which continually leads him to the same point of a river. It isn't difficult to notice the integration of the source material; Close to the Edge achieves this cyclical nature by conjoining uncommon time signatures to suddenly meet at certain intervals, and reprising specific phrases along with musical motifs throughout the staggering eighteen minute production. While that sort of length can be daunting, the first two songs off of the album are actually segmented into four distinct passages that lend toward the direction of a song's idea. Breaking down Close to the Edge begins with The Solid Time of Change (0:00-6:04), which establishes a chaotic rhythm before resolving into the song's main melody from Steve Howe on guitar. Settling into a more controlled time signature, Jon Anderson's high and soft vocal register enters near the end of this section, revealing the song's chorus before jumping across key signatures that bleed into Total Mass Retain (6:04-8:27). Shortest of the four, Total Mass Retain plays around with repeated phrases before winding down the song's energy for its transition into I Get Up, I Get Down (8:27-14:12), an emotionally powerful slow ballad that highlights the spectacular keyboard skills of Rick Wakeman on the organ. Dreamily comprised, I Get Up, I Get Down represents the attainment of personal enlightenment at the edge of the river, delivering a passionate performance before looping back around to the frantic drive of Seasons of Man (14:12-18:38). After navigating futuristic synth tones, the end of Close to the Edge unravels the tension built over several minutes to end with the familiar chorus line in a major key. This track is so monolithic, I could analyze just about every second of it if I had the time. Instead, it's only fair that I pay my tribute to the remaining two songs on the album: And You and I and Siberian Khatru are both incredible in their own right. I'll keep my review brief: check out And You and I for a less complicated story-driven song, or Siberian Khatru if you're looking for a standard prog rock jam sesh. Ultimately, no amount of words I write can compare to the experience of putting on a pair of headphones and listening to Close to the Edge unabridged.
Coming quickly to terms of all expression laid
As a moment regained and regarded both the same
Emotion revealed as the ocean maid
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
Why it's my favorite:
There exist very few songs out there with the ability to create such poignant impact that it deeply affects me personally. To me, Close to the Edge awakens strong feelings of resilience and triumph for the obstacles that I have overcome to this point. Its concepts of cognizance and life progression expressed in tribute to the Hindu principles of Siddhartha resonated with me when I first heard the song in 2017. During a particularly rough patch of my life, I approached life with the same outlook of Close to the Edge: I get up, I get down. This simple phrase dictated a concentrated period of my life, motivating me to continue fighting even when the struggle seemed insurmountable. While it may sound silly, Close to the Edge pulled me out of dark times with the all-encompassing beauty of its songwriting. The sheer force of the organ solo from I Get Up, I Get Down has made me weep numerous times. The delicate triple harmonies of the band make the most of every line, specifically in the outro of Seasons of Man. It just so happens that the B-sides of this album are delightful to listen to as well. If all three songs from Close to the Edge evoked the kind of emotion of its feature presentation, this album would be my favorite of all-time, without question. But alas, you can't earn a spot on this list for one song alone. However, I'm unashamed to say Close to the Edge does a majority of the heavy lifting. I mean, the album is named after it. Do me a favor and discover the majesty of Yes for yourself. It's worth the wait.
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