ASHES ARE BURNING

In Progressive Rock, when you hear the word "Renaissance", probaby you will think in that wonderful Annie Haslam´s voice, i do that, despite there´s a bad mexican band called Renaissance too, and despite maybe you should remind Keith and Jane Relf´s Renaissance,the first thing in your mind will be i dont know, Ashes are Burning, Mother Russia or Northern Lights for example.

Ashes are Burning, besides Turn of the Cards and Scherezade are IMO "The Big 3 albums", i also love A Song for all seasons for example, but i think this big 3 was their best period, their most creative and fine period, this time im going to review "Ashes are Burning".

If you haven´t heard to them, this could be a nice abum to start, you will find immediately symphonic sound, great piano trhoughout the album, and the mentioned beautiful , peaceful, superb Annie Haslam´s voice.

"Can You Understand" is a perfect first song, here we can find and appreciate that great melodic and representative piano work, it is one of the best Renaissance´s things besides the vocals though, this is a 9 minute song which could be a preamble of the whole album, in my opinion this song is a clear example of the highest Rennaissance sound, creative and envolving sound, it has some soft passages, some changes, excellent overall.

"Let it Grow" is that kind of low tempo song, i can´t describe it with other adjetive, that song is really nice, here among other songs we can notice that high tones that Haslam can reach , again we can notice that melodic piano sound, also the bass is great.

"On the frontier" is my less favorite song here, anyway is a pretty good song, but i think it doesnt have anything new to show us , te same beautiful voice, and the same soft slow tempo song, with some vocal harmonies, in fact is similar to other songs, but if i have to choose my less favorite, it would be.

"Carpet of the Sun", i like this song too much because it was one of the first Renaissance´s songs that i ever listened , it is the shortest song here, but is beautiful, and again with their particular style.

"At the harbour" is a beautiful composition, it has all the time a nice and well place acoustic guitar sound, making the rythm of the song, this i one of the best guitar moments here, is like a duo between acoustic guitar and female voice, great song, im sure you could enjoy it a lot.

"Ashes are Burning" the self titled track, and the last track of the album, and other thing, the Best track of the album, this song is great , amazing, progressive rock in it´s highest symphonic classical point here, this song is over 10 minutes, one of the best things here is the bass sound, always in the righ moment and not as repetitive as other songs, this song is simply great, perfect all is excelent here, from the most powerful passages when piano makes again an excellent work, to the slowest moments when only Annie´s vocals are present.

I highly recommend this album, because it was made in Renaissance best period, it show us their some of their best compositions, still im not sure if it deserves to be called a masterpiece, 4.3. stars for me! Excellent addition to any prog lover!

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