Before analyzing the format, one must respect the source. Released in September 1972, Close To The Edge was Yes’s fifth studio album and their creative zenith. The album consists of only three tracks, but the 18-minute title suite takes up the entire first side of the original vinyl.
Includes the full-length version of "America" (Simon & Garfunkel cover) and previously unreleased "Early Assembly" or rough mixes of the title track.
Word count: ~1,250. For the collector: Pair this FLAC with a good tube headphone amplifier to soften the transient peaks, and you’ll hear why 1972 was prog’s annus mirabilis. Yes - Close To The Edge -2013- -FLAC 24-192-
The Blu-ray version features high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz stereo remasters of the original "flat" stereo masters and 24-bit/96kHz for the new Steven Wilson 5.1 Surround and Stereo remixes.
The Close to the Edge 2013 high-res transfer is arguably the closest we will ever get to sitting in the control room at Advision Studios in 1972 while Eddy Offord moved faders. It reveals the performance behind the production—the squeak of Bill Bruford’s kick drum pedal, the harmonic bleed between Steve Howe’s dual guitar tracks, the unquantized, human rush of the final chord. Before analyzing the format, one must respect the source
Wilson went back to the original 16-track masters to pull out clarity that we haven’t heard since 1972. In this hi-res format:
A common question: Isn't the 2013 edition just a re-issue? While Steven Wilson’s famous 5.1 surround remix of Close to the Edge came later (2014), the 2013 stereo FLAC 24-192 release coincided with a broader industry shift toward “audiophile-grade” catalog downloads. It is often sourced from a fresh, high-resolution transfer done by engineer Isao Kikuchi (for the Japanese SHM-SACD release) or directly from the Atlantic master tapes. Includes the full-length version of "America" (Simon &
The complex vocal counterpoint ("Blaff", "Svenson", etc.) swirling alongside Howe’s harpsichord riffs can easily become a cluttered mess. Wilson’s 2013 mix keeps each vocal track locked in its own pristine pocket across the stereo field. The Definitive Way to Listen
| Component | Meaning | Relevance to Yes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Free Lossless Audio Codec (compressed without losing data, unlike MP3) | Preserves every nuance of the master tape—no harmonic distortion or "swishy" cymbal decay. | | 24-bit | Bit depth (dynamic range: 144dB vs. 96dB for 16-bit) | Captures the whisper of Rick Wakeman’s Mellotron and the explosion of the full band without clipping. | | 192 kHz | Sampling rate (captures frequencies up to 96kHz, far above human hearing) | Ensures perfect temporal resolution for high-frequency harmonics—the "air" around Steve Howe’s acoustic guitar. |
Digital and physical versions from this 2013 release often include high-resolution bonus material: Instrumental Versions: 24-bit / 96kHz stereo instrumental mixes of the full album. Bonus Tracks: