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“Close to the edge” viene considerato da molti (compreso me) come uno dei migliori (se non il migliore) album degli Yes, e molti critici lo considerano l'espressione più alta del rock progressivo in generale. In particolare, progarchives.com lo ha eletto, nel 2006, il più bell’album progressivo di tutti i tempi. Fu il primo album del gruppo a contenere un brano così lungo da occupare un intero lato del vinile; tale formula fu riproposta anche in alcuni degli album successivi.
I testi sono già influenzati dai temi mistici e religiosi introdotti dal cantante Jon Anderson, temi che in seguito sarebbero diventati centrali nel concept album “Tales from topographic oceans”. Secondo il sito ufficiale degli Yes, (“Yesworld”), la suite omonima dell’album sarebbe ispirata dal romanzo Siddharta di Herman Hesse e descriverebbe il "risveglio" spirituale del protagonista del romanzo "accanto al bordo" di un fiume (che rappresenta simbolicamente le vite del suo spirito).
Il fatto che “Close to the edge” fosse un risultato impossibile da superare per il gruppo era chiaro anche agli Yes stessi; l'abbandono di Bill Bruford fu infatti motivato, oltre che dall'offerta di unirsi ai King Crimson, dalla sua convinzione che dopo “Close to the edge” gli Yes non avrebbero potuto che ripetersi o peggiorare.
I testi sono già influenzati dai temi mistici e religiosi introdotti dal cantante Jon Anderson, temi che in seguito sarebbero diventati centrali nel concept album “Tales from topographic oceans”. Secondo il sito ufficiale degli Yes, (“Yesworld”), la suite omonima dell’album sarebbe ispirata dal romanzo Siddharta di Herman Hesse e descriverebbe il "risveglio" spirituale del protagonista del romanzo "accanto al bordo" di un fiume (che rappresenta simbolicamente le vite del suo spirito).
Il fatto che “Close to the edge” fosse un risultato impossibile da superare per il gruppo era chiaro anche agli Yes stessi; l'abbandono di Bill Bruford fu infatti motivato, oltre che dall'offerta di unirsi ai King Crimson, dalla sua convinzione che dopo “Close to the edge” gli Yes non avrebbero potuto che ripetersi o peggiorare.
Che altro dire? Un album meraviglioso, assolutamente da non perdere. Il mio voto personale credo avrà il consenso di tutti: ECCELLENTE!
“Close to the edge” is considered by many people (including me myself) as the best album released by Yes. Many critics consider it as the best achievement of progressive rock at large: in particular, progarchives.com voted it the greatest progressive album of all time in 2006. “Close to the edge “set a trend for Yes of including a single epic song significantly longer than the others which was followed in the later albums.
The spiritual influences introduced by Jon Anderson, which later formed the basis of “Tales from topographic oceans”, are already evident in the music and lyrics of all three tracks on “Close to the edge”.According to the Yes’ official Web site (“Yesworld”), the title track is inspired by Herman Hesse’s book “Siddharta”, an explanation which can cast the cryptic and mysterious lyrics in a new light, tracking the awakening of Hesse's character "close to the edge" of a river (and, symbolically, of the serial lifetimes of his soul) where he experiences a spiritual awakening.
The Yes members themselves were fully aware that “Close to the edge” was going to be the peak achievement of their career, and that no subsequent album of theirs would have been better than this. In fact, drummer Bill Bruford suddenly left, just as recording ended, the line-up both to join Robert Fripp’s King Crimson and because he was convinced that “Close to the edge” wasn’t going to be equalled by any of the next releases by the band.
The spiritual influences introduced by Jon Anderson, which later formed the basis of “Tales from topographic oceans”, are already evident in the music and lyrics of all three tracks on “Close to the edge”.According to the Yes’ official Web site (“Yesworld”), the title track is inspired by Herman Hesse’s book “Siddharta”, an explanation which can cast the cryptic and mysterious lyrics in a new light, tracking the awakening of Hesse's character "close to the edge" of a river (and, symbolically, of the serial lifetimes of his soul) where he experiences a spiritual awakening.
The Yes members themselves were fully aware that “Close to the edge” was going to be the peak achievement of their career, and that no subsequent album of theirs would have been better than this. In fact, drummer Bill Bruford suddenly left, just as recording ended, the line-up both to join Robert Fripp’s King Crimson and because he was convinced that “Close to the edge” wasn’t going to be equalled by any of the next releases by the band.
What else should I say? An excellent album, an absolute must for prog rock fans. I’m giving this album an EXCELLENT vote: I think everybody will agree on this.
YES (1972):
Jon Anderson - voce (lead vocals)
Chris Squire - basso, cori (bass, backing vocals)
Steve Howe - chitarre, cori (guitars, backing vocals)
Rick Wakeman - tastiere (keyboards)
Chris Squire - basso, cori (bass, backing vocals)
Steve Howe - chitarre, cori (guitars, backing vocals)
Rick Wakeman - tastiere (keyboards)
Bill Bruford - batteria e percussioni (drums and percussions)
TRACK LIST:
1. Close to the edge
1a. The solid time of change
1b. Total mass retain
1c. I get up, I get down
1d. Seasons of man
2. And you and I
2a. Cord of life
2b. Eclipse
2c. The preacher, the teacher
2d. Apocalypse
1a. The solid time of change
1b. Total mass retain
1c. I get up, I get down
1d. Seasons of man
2. And you and I
2a. Cord of life
2b. Eclipse
2c. The preacher, the teacher
2d. Apocalypse
3. Siberian khatru
CLOSE TO THE EDGE (YES) - 35,7 MB
1 commento:
Consenso accordato!
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