Yes - Magnification
	Released: 2001 Label: Eagle Records Cat. No.: Eagcd 189 Total Time: 60:33
	Reviewed by: Davide Guidone, March 2003 After some experiments, like Deep Purple with their Concert For Group And Orchestra, or Banco with Di Terra, or Steve Hackett’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (yet it isn’t a rock opera), Yes also try to make a release with an orchestra. I think the reason is very simple: orchestra takes the place of the keyboards. In fact, no one plays them on this album, except Alan White, who sometimes uses the piano. So, I have to make a consideration: Koroshev’s replacement is a great thing. According to me, his presence didn’t add anything to band’s sound. He has an enormous technique, but a little personality. Besides, I believe it was better to sign a keyboard player, even though this is a very peculiar work. After having listened to it a lot of times, I’m sure Magnification is under the usual standard of the group, although every Yes disc is always great, but this one isn’t "Magnificent" (ah, ah, ah). The reason is that the orchestral parts aren’t always convincing: in the opening track or in "Spirit Of Survival" the arrangement is excessive, in other songs the orchestra limits itself by sounding like a keyboard. However, Yes still represent Prog music, not like their contemporary bands of the Seventies. At other times during the CD, Chris Squire and Steve Howe give their best and Jon Anderson’s voice is soft and clear like the past times. I’ve never noticed Steve Howe play acoustic guitars as much as he does on this album. Moreover, there are two wonderful songs, the longest ones, "Dreamtime" and the suite called "In The Presence Of." To conclude a beautiful disc, even if I prefer the studio tracks of Keys To Ascension. More about Magnification: Track Listing: Magnification (7:15) / Spirit Of Survival (6:01) / Don:t Go (4:26) / Give Love Each Day (7:43) / Can You Imagine (2:58) / We Agree (6:30) / Soft As A Dove (2:17) / Dreamtime (10:45) / In The Presence Of (10:24) / Time Is Time (2:08) Musicians: Jon Anderson - vocals, midi guitar, acoustic guitar Chris Squire - bass, vocals Steve Howe - acoustic and electric guitar, steel, mandolin, vocals Alan White - drums, percussion, vocals, piano Orchestra conducted by Larry Group Contact: Website: www.yesworld.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Yes (1969) Time And A Word (1970) The Yes Album (1971) Fragile (1972) Close To The Edge (1972) Yessongs (1973) Tales From Topographic Oceans (1974) Relayer (1975) Going For The One (1977) Tormato (1978) Yesshows (1980) Drama (1980) Classic Yes (1982) 90125 (1983/2004) 90125 Live - The Solos (1985) Big Generator (1987) Union (1989) Yesyears (1991) Yesstory (1991) Highlights: The Very Best Of Yes (1993) Talk (1994) Keys To Ascension I (1996) Keys To Ascension II (1997) Open Your Eyes (1997) Yes, Friends And Relatives (1998) The Ladder (1999) House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (2000) Yes, Friends and Relatives - Volume Two (2001) YesSymphonic (ep) (2001) Magnification (2001) Keystudio (ep) (2001) The Ultimate Yes - 35th Anniverary Collection (2004) The Word Is Live (2005) House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (video) (2000) Symphonic Live (DVD) (2002) Yes: Special Edition EP (DVD) (2003) YesSpeak (DVD) (2003) YesAcoustic (DVD) (2004) YesSpeak - YesAcoustic - 35th Anniversary Edition (2005) Interviews Yes (circa 1997) Steve Howe (from Jan 2000) Rick Wakeman (Jan 2000) Rick Wakeman (Aug 2001) Alan White (from Dec 2001) Articles The Promise Will Come When The Promise Is Made: A Review of Yes in the UK, February 2000 Yes - The Masterworks Tour 2000, The Yes Symphonic Tour, Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT, September 1, 2001 Yes Indeed: Yes Live, Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, November 4, 2002 Yes In Concert: "A Night To Remember", Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, - November 4, 2002 Yes Unplugged Plugs Yes, Yes Live At The Sherman Oaks Galleria, January 28th, 2004 Yes In The Rough, Cox Arena, SDSU Campus, San Diego, CA, April 18, 2004 There's No Stoppin' Yes, Koningin Elisabethzaal, Antwerp, Belgium, June 15, 2004 Expect A Lot From The Yes Summer Tour, Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, August 18, 2004 The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Yes And Dream Theater Live On The Green At Viejas Casino, Alpine, CA, September 16, 2004 Tales From The Edge: A Guide To Yes Part 1: The Classic Prog Years Tales From The Edge: A Guide To Yes Part 2: From Prog To Pop
	[Review Index]  [Home]  [Top] © Copyright 2003 ProgressiveWorld.net/Davide Guidone