from the LP Close to the Edge, Atlantic Records, 1972This song, much like the band that created it, is the very definition of progressive rock: highly proficient musicianship, odd time signatures, grandiose production and instrumentation, several varying sections within the same song, and the almighty keyboard. Generally speaking, Yes rocked a bit harder than most of their prog rock peers, and this surely served them well, as they became “that band” which everybody wanted to take an acid trip listening to. I haven’t the slightest idea what Jon Anderson is crooning about here (“…sing, bird of prey, beauty begins at the heart of you…gold stainless nail, torn through the distance of man, as they regard the summit…even Siberia goes through the motions…”?!?), but the band functions as such a complete and seamless whole in their jamming here that it’s easy to see why so many other groups were jealous of their mad skills.
