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close to the edit (deftly diverted)

remixed by rhythm scholar

 

"Close (to the Edit)" was a single by Art of Noise, released on various formats in May 1984. It was closely related to their earlier single (and hip-hop club hit) "Beatbox", and indeed a slightly longer version of "Close (to the Edit)" had previously been released under the title "Beatbox (Diversion Two)". It takes its title from Close to the Edge by Yes, and also samples "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by the same group. The single heavily features the recorded sample of a car, a VW Golf, belonging to band member J. J. Jeczalik's neighbour, stalling and restarting. It also features a short spoken-word vocal performed by Gary Langan's then-girlfriend, Karen Clayton (who had also performed a similar vocal task on the single "Poison Arrow" by the group ABC, which Langan had co-produced).

The single was released in the UK on what had become ZTT's customary array of formats: standard and picture disc 7"s, three 12" singles (one a picture disc) and a cassette single, each featuring a number of unique mixes. The many remixes were given their own titles derived from the overall title, including "Edited", "Closely Closely (Enough's Enough)" and "Closed". An extended version appeared on the album Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?.

The cassette single version, That Was Close, was a medley of a number of the mixes from the various formats, featuring Diversion Eight, Diversion Two, Closest, Close-Up, the album version of Close (to the Edit) and Closed. This medley lasted in excess of 20 minutes in length, repeated on both sides of the cassette, and featured the voice of caricature actor Chris Barrie. It appeared only in one other format at that time, a white label vinyl (which was actually pressed a bright green colour), and remained otherwise unavailable in any format until it was included in its entirety on the 2006 CD box-set compilation And What Have You Done With My Body, God?.

A sample of this track was used in a number of songs most notably in "Firestarter" by The Prodigy and "Back in the Day" by Christina Aguilera (uncredited).

The single was Art of Noise's first major UK hit, reaching number eight in the UK singles chart.

The list of versions of the track:

  • 7": "Close (to the Edit)"
  • 7": "A Time to Hear (Who's Listening)"
  • 12": "Close (to the Edit) (Extended Remix)"
  • 12": "Close Up" 7:37 (12ZTPS01+)
  • 12": "Closely Closely (Enough's Enough) 7:11 (12ZTPS01)
  • 12": (picture disc) "Edited" 5:32 (12PZTPS01)
  • 12": "Close-up (Hop)" 5:10 (12ZTPS1)
  • 12": "A Time to Clear (It Up)" 5:05
  • 12": "A Time to Hear (You're Listening)" 3:27
  • 12": "A Time to Hear (Who's Listening)" 3:25
  • Green label 12": "Untitled version" 7:38 (12ZTPS1)
  • Cassette single: "That Was Close" (see above for details) 20:36 (CTIS106)

"Edited" was very similar to the LP version, but with some additional overdubs. "A Time to Hear (Who's Listening)" was a montage of extracts and out-takes from the album Who's Afraid of The Art of Noise?.

This text is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Close (to the Edit)"