MAGNIFICATION

Actually 3 and half stars. I thought this showed promise of a return to form after so many years drifting here and there in search of something they are definately not. Or is it just that those different line-ups in the eighties and nineties weren't really Yes as many of us knew and loved 'em. Actually I thought that Keys Studio stuff with the old mid-seventies line-up started to get back on track with songs like Mind Drive. There were also traces of a return to form on The Ladder too.

I cannot help feeling that Jon could shed some of his pop-ish approach. After all he did it after Fragile and the next four albums were top draw Yes. The pop songs are the weakest on Magnification, although Don't Go is very catchy and has one of those great rolling Squire bass lines that pump up an average song into something of a groove. But even this is somewhat let down by a rather corny middle eight. The title track is brilliant and, for me, the one that works best with the orchestra...it is truly symphonic.

"Can you imagine" works well with the orchestra too. Wasn't this an old Squire song re- vamped? In any case I like it much more than the other "shorter" pieces on the album.

"We agree" is boring and "Dreamtime lacks development". But "In the Prescence of" almost makes up for them both by delivering a great melody and a fine arrangement. erhaps this is the one song that brings back some shades of past greatness (it makes me think of Th Yes Album and Going for the one in places).

I am very interested to see what they come up with for the next studio album...