MAGNIFICATION

Magnification is indeed very different Yes album, it has no Wakeman and actually it doesn't even have keyboards, only in some parts, but always in very minor role. Yes albums after 70's have varied from fair to terrible, but they never reach anything "good" in progressive ears. Magnification is a clear step towards prog after mid 90's when Yes briefly tried but mostly failed. The sound of Yes is very different on this album, new but you still can easily hear that its Yes.

Keyboards are mainly replaced with an entire orchestra. This could really turn out to be an exellent idea but unfortunately I just feel that Yes did not try hard enough. The album does have some really good songs such as In The Presence Of, which by few has been considered as Yes song after Awaken. In The Presence Of is propably the best song in the album. There are few other particulary good songs such as Magnification and perhaps Dreamtime. Then there are many songs that are just "nice" but leave no greater impact to listener. Then, last and the least, songs just seem to fillers or just pop songs that don't work. Especially Soft As A Dove is a good example.

Magnification is a great improvement from their previous album The Ladder. It has moments that actually have same power and glory that Yes had during 70's. But many decades of pop has left an ugly stain to Yes. This album has lots of potential but unfortunately it never reached the finish line. For Yes fans this album propably offers good moments. For others it might just be nice to listen to. However if Yes continues to more proggy direction and makes such a leap like they did on Magnification related to The Ladder then we mave something big on our hands.

For Yes fans who already own all the essential or even a bit essential albums then Magnification might be a nice addition. For others just fair music, partly actually very good, but never start to listen to Yes with this album.

3 Stars: Good, but non-essential.

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