Close (to the edit) - Art of Noise

The song takes its title from the fifth studio album Close to the edge (1972) by the band Yes. Its working title was 'Close to the edge". Paul Morley said: 'We created the music through editing, and so changed the title. Being perverse and provocative I put the brackets in.' The song also samples the 1983 songs 'Leave it' and 'Owner of a lonely heart' by the same band, both of which were produced by Trevor Horn. The single heavily features the recorded sample of a car, a Volkswagen Golf owned by a neighbour of band member J. J. Jeczalik, stalling and restarting. The short spoken-word vocal and the "Hey!" sample was the voice of Camilla Pilkington-Smyth. Jeczalik's girlfriend at the time taught at a girls' school in Ascot and brought Pilkington-Smyth, one of her pupils, to his attention. The sample of her voice was recorded by Jeczalik in a chapel using a Revox A77 tape recorder. 

This single is a US promotional pressing with a sleeve which is very different from the UK version. The track appears on both sides, as per usual on many promotional 7" singles.

My collection: 7" single no. 8362
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 July 2026
Tracks: 'Close (to the edit)' / 'Close (to the edit)' 

Moments in love - Art of Noise

'Moments in love' was a beautiful electronic track by Art of Noise, released in the spring of 1987. Although it wasn't their biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 51, it did reach number 10 in the Dutch Top 40, making it their biggest hit up to that point - surpassed only when they released 'Kiss' with Tom Jones a few years later.

There are several versions of 'Moments in love', but this single version is by far the most concise.

My collection: 7" single no. 529
Found: Free Record Shop, 1987
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Moments in love' / 'Beatbox diversion 10'

Paranoimia '89 - Art of Noise

Art of Noise had a hit with 'Paranoimia' in 1986, a track featuring the vocals of the computer generated television personality Max Headroom. When the band released a greatest hits compilation in 1988, the album was promoted with several singles.

One of them was 'Paranoimia '89', a remixed version omitting Max Headroom's vocals and based wholly on the music by Art of Noise. The remix was made by Dutch remixer and DJ Ben Liebrand. The single did not chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 3960
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Paranoimia '89' / 'Locus classicus 1'

Kiss - Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

'Kiss' is a cover version of Prince's 1986 hit single. It was recorded by Art of Noise and Tom Jones as a new track for Art of Noise's 1988 compilation album 'The best of the Art of Noise'. The track features elements from previous Art of Noise singles 'Close (to the edit)', 'Moments in love', 'Paranoimia', 'Dragnet' and 'Peter Gunn'.

In the UK, the Art of Noise and Tom Jones improved on Prince's success by peaking at number 5 in the singles chart, one position higher than the original. In the Netherlands, the single also reached number 5, but there Prince had reached number 2 just two years before.

My collection: 7" single no. 3913
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Kiss' / 'E.F.L.'

Close (to the edit) - Art of Noise

'Close (to the edit)' is one of the weirdest tracks I heard back in 1984. It took me some time to get used to this seemingly random array of noises. 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.

'Close (to the edit)' did not chart initially. It still reached number 8 in the UK singles chart when it was re-released in November 1984.

My collection: 7" single no. 2009

Found: October 18, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Close (to the edit)' / 'A time to hear (who's listening)'

Paranoimia - The Art of Noise with Max Headroom

'Paranoimia' was released as a single by the group Art of Noise in 1986. The track featured the computer generated television personality Max Headroom on vocals. The original version of the track (without Max Headroom) features on the album 'In visible silence'.

The single reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart, and peaked at number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 470

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1986

Cost: 4 guilders

Tracks: 'Paranoimia' / 'Why me?'