MAGNIFICATION

Ah, Magnification. I remember when I first heard the album, I knew it was going to take a while to get into it, and it does in a lot of ways. Partly because it's not as immediately accessable as any of the recently preceding albums, and additionally because it's unique in sound for them. It's the only Yes album without a keyboardist, the orchestra taking over what would be played by Tony, Rick, Patrick, Billy, or Igor, and there's not as much variation in sound as what we're used to from them in general, but it's a very rewarding album. The band works with the orchestra very comfortably. All of the compositions are very sophisticated, ranging from real vintage prog in "Spirit of Survival" and title track, and especially the multi-part "In the Prescence Of" to superbly written and emoted ballad's like the excellent, "We Agree." Everything is at a very high level, compositionally, and although it's not an album that I get excited about putting on as often as their revered classics, it's thouroughly interesting to disect, and one that I have very much respect for.