Magnification is the nineteenth studio album by progressive rock

Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...

 band Yes

Yes (band)

Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...

, released in 2001. It was the band's first album of the new century, and their second with a full orchestra (the first being Time and a Word

Time and a Word

Time and a Word is the second album by progressive rock band Yes, released in mid-1970 in the UK and November 1970 in the US. This was the last Yes album to feature the group's original line-up, as Peter Banks was fired before the album's release....

from 1970). It marked the band's last studio album to date with vocalist Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...

, and the last for a decade until 2011's Fly from Here

Fly from Here

-Reaction from Anderson:In an interview with Rolling Stone, Anderson stated that on hearing the single "We Can Fly" he felt it sounded "a bit dated" and that Horn's production "wasn't as good as I expected"...

.

History

Following the departures of guitarist Billy Sherwood

Billy Sherwood

William "Billy" Wyman Sherwood is a musician, record producer, and engineer.-Family:Sherwood comes from a musical family which includes his father Bobby Sherwood, who was an actor, musician, and big band leader, his mother Phyllis, a singer and drummer, and brother Michael, a keyboardist and...

 and keyboardist Igor Khoroshev

Igor Khoroshev

Igor Petrovich Khoroshev is a Russian keyboard player living in the USA, best known for his work with Yes between 1997 and 2001. Khoroshev appeared on their studio albums Open Your Eyes and The Ladder and the live album House of Yes: Live from House of Blues.-Biography:Igor Khoroshev was born in...

, and Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman

Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...

's decision not to rejoin the band, remaining members Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...

, Chris Squire

Chris Squire

Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...

, Steve Howe

Steve Howe (guitarist)

Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...

 and Alan White

Alan White (Yes drummer)

Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...

 decided to fill the keyboard role with an orchestra, and hired film composer Larry Groupé

Larry Groupé

Lawrence Nash Groupé, best known as Larry Groupé, is an Emmy Award-winning American film score composer. His most popular works include the score for Rod Lurie's movies Deterrence and The Contender. In 2004 he was nominated for the Emmy Award to the best original score for the TV series Line of Fire...

 to compose and conduct original orchestration

Orchestration

Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...

s and musical bridges.

The album was re-released in 2002 as a limited and numbered 2CD set with alternate artwork; the second disc contains three live performances and a CD-ROM track with an interview, video of "Don't Go," and a live video of "The Gates Of Delirium". This album also features the song "Can You Imagine", in which the main vocals are sung by Chris Squire with Jon Anderson on backing vocals. This Squire-penned song was originally recorded in 1981 as a demo entitled "Can You See" for his aborted XYZ project.

Reception

Magnification received a warm reception from critics and fans, although not on the level of older albums such as Fragile

Fragile (Yes album)

Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...

or Close to the Edge; the album reached #71 in the UK and #186 in the US.

Track listing

All songs by Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...

, Chris Squire

Chris Squire

Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...

, Steve Howe

Steve Howe (guitarist)

Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...

 and Alan White

Alan White (Yes drummer)

Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...

.

1. "Magnification" – 7:16
2. "Spirit of Survival" – 6:02
3. "Don't Go" – 4:27
4. "Give Love Each Day" – 7:44
5. "Can You Imagine" – 2:59
6. "We Agree" – 6:30
7. "Soft as a Dove" – 2:17
8. "Dreamtime" – 10:46
9. "In The Presence Of" – 10:24

   "i) Deeper"

   "ii) Death of Ego"

   "iii) True Beginner"

   "iv) Turn Around and Remember"

10. "Time Is Time" – 2:09

2002 Bonus Disc

1. "Deeper (In the Presence Of) (Live)" - 11:18
2. "The Gates of Delirium (Live)" - 23:47
3. "Magnification (Live)" - 7:44
4. CD-ROM track containing:
   1. Jon Anderson Video Interview - 2:26
   2. "Don't Go" (Single Video) - 3:21
   3. "The Gates of Delirium" (Live Video) - 23:54

Disc 1

1. "Magnification" – 7:16
2. "Spirit Of Survival" – 6:02
3. "Don't Go" – 4:27
4. "Give Love Each Day" – 7:44
5. "Can You Imagine" – 2:59
6. "We Agree" – 6:30
7. "Soft as a Dove" – 2:17
8. "Dreamtime" – 10:46
9. "In the Presence Of" – 10:24

   "i) Deeper"

   "ii) Death of Ego"

   "iii) True Beginner"

   "iv) Turn Around and Remember"

10. "Time Is Time" – 2:09

Disc 2

1. "Close to the Edge
   Close to the Edge (song)
   "Close to the Edge" is the title track to progressive rock band Yes's album of the same name. The song is over 18 minutes in length and takes up the entire first side of the album. It consists of four movements.- Movements :-I...
   
   " [Live] - 20:04
2. "Long Distance Runaround
   Long Distance Runaround
   "Long Distance Runaround" is a song by the progressive rock group Yes first recorded for their 1971 album, Fragile. Written by lead singer Jon Anderson, the song was released as a B-side to "Roundabout" but became a surprise hit in its own right as a staple of album-oriented rock radio...
   
   " [Live] - 3:44
3. "The Gates of Delirium
   The Gates of Delirium
   "The Gates of Delirium" is the first track on Yes’s 1974 album, Relayer. Based on Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, the song begins with a prelude, which leads into a lengthy instrumental section representing the battle...
   
   " [Live] - 22:41

Chart Success

Magnification (Eagle 189EAG) reached #71 in the UK and #186 in the US during a chart stay of 1 week.

Personnel

• Jon Anderson
  Jon Anderson
  Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
  
  : Lead Vocals, MIDI Guitar, and Acoustic Guitar
• Chris Squire
  Chris Squire
  Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
  
  : Bass Guitars, Vocals
• Steve Howe
  Steve Howe (guitarist)
  Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
  
  : Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Pedal Steel Guitar, Mandolin, and Vocals
• Alan White
  Alan White (Yes drummer)
  Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
  
  : Drums, Percussion, Piano, Vocals

with

• Larry Groupé
  Larry Groupé
  Lawrence Nash Groupé, best known as Larry Groupé, is an Emmy Award-winning American film score composer. His most popular works include the score for Rod Lurie's movies Deterrence and The Contender. In 2004 he was nominated for the Emmy Award to the best original score for the TV series Line of Fire...
  
  : Conductor