: Wilson went back to the original multi-track tapes to rebuild the album from the ground up. Audiophiles often prefer this version for "analytical listening" because it clarifies complex layers that were previously obscured.
Listen for the steel guitar. In MP3, it sounds like tinny noise. In FLAC (especially high-res), you hear the slide, the fret buzz, and the natural reverb of the studio. Wakeman’s harpsichord (actually a piano run through a wah-wah and echo) is crisp and pungent. The climax features a low-end organ pedal that many lossy files simply cut off below 40Hz.
The 2003 Rhino reissue (CD and FLAC) is often criticized for being too "loud" (brickwalled). Many audiophiles prefer the 2013 Steven Wilson remix available in FLAC, which offers greater clarity and separation, or a well-mastered copy of the original Atlantic Records CD from the 1980s. If you find a FLAC version, check the mastering source. Yes - Close To The Edge -FLAC-
Close to the Edge is not background music. It’s a 38-minute journey that demands—and rewards—attention. In FLAC format, that journey feels three-dimensional. Whether you’re a prog head or a curious listener, this is the way to hear it.
When users search for , they are specifically looking to avoid the pitfalls of lossy compression (like MP3). : Wilson went back to the original multi-track
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Released in 1972, Close to the Edge was the fifth studio album by the British band Yes. It stands as the definitive statement of the classic Yes lineup: Jon Anderson on vocals, Steve Howe on guitars, Chris Squire on bass, Rick Wakeman on keyboards, and Bill Bruford on drums. In MP3, it sounds like tinny noise
If one album could sum up the ambition, virtuosity, and sheer audacity of 1970s progressive rock, it’s Close to the Edge by Yes. Released in September 1972, this is the band’s fifth studio album and the one where they truly reached escape velocity.
: Many audiophiles seek out the 2013 and 2023 remixes by Steven Wilson in FLAC format, which are praised for bringing new life and clarity to the original tapes. Album Overview and Tracklist