Magnification Cassette

Originally released in September 2001, Magnification is Yes’s 19th studio album and the first recorded as a four-piece, featuring the classic core lineup ofJon Anderson (lead vocals, MIDI guitar),Chris Squire(bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Can You Imagine”),Steve Howe(acoustic, electric pedal steel guitars, backing vocals), and Alan White (drums, piano, backing vocals). There was no dedicated keyboard player on the sessions, and perhaps the harmonic freedom this provided inspired an adventurous musicality that harkened back to the band’s early days.

Compositions such as “Dreamtime” and “In the Presence Of” feature extended instrumental sections, while songs including “Can You Imagine” and “Time Is Time”r eflect Yes’s post-1980s pop sensibility. Seamlessly woven throughout the album are ambitious orchestral arrangements performed by theSan Diego Symphony Orchestraunder the direction ofthree-time Emmy Award-winning film composer Larry Groupé. Magnification marked only the second time Yes had recorded with a full orchestra, following 1970’sTime and a Word. The band supported the album with its acclaimedYessymphonic Tour, where songs including the“Magnification,”“Don’t Go,” and “In the Presence Of” were brought to life with a full orchestra onstage.

Magnification also represents a pivotal chapter in the band’s history. Keyboardist Igor Khoroshevhad departed the previous year,Rick Wakeman would return to the band in 2002, and Magnification ultimately became founding member Jon Anderson’s final studio album with Yes.

SIDE A

1 Magnification

2 Spirit of Survival

3 Don't Go

4 Give Love Each Day

5 Can You Imagine

SIDE B

1 We Agree

2 Soft As a Dove

3 Dreamtime

4 In the Presence Of

5 Time Is Time