ASHES ARE BURNING

Probably some of the prettiest music ever recorded is on this. This album is great from start to finish. Let it Grow is a little too flower power for me, but the rest of the album is pure perfection. They still were quite psychadelic at this point, but moved much further beyond their Jefferson Airplane influences into more beautiful and flowing symphonic progressive rock. This is the first Renaissance album to feature an orchestra, and it was an addition that added so much depth and beauty to their already beautiful sound. The album opens and closes with two beautiful and powerful epics. Can You Understand is the much more upbeat and blissful of the two, featuring an incredible opening instrumental section with top notch playing from all members of the band. Haslam's voice is particularly beautiful on this album, she really does sound like an angel here. When the orchestra comes in, the beauty only increases. Ashes are Burning is a much sadder song, with more amazing instrumental sections, and a great guitar solo at the end. Other great songs from this album include Carpet of the Sun, which is a very beautiful short happy and uplifting song. Contrast that to the Harbour, which provides vivid lyrical depictions of women waiting for their loved ones to come back from the war at the harbour. Haslam's voice on this song is so moving, it's almost tearful. The song also opens and closes with a section from The Sunken Cathedral, a powerful piano peace.

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