PROLOGUE

It seems like other forces were at work keeping this band together during all the turbulence surrounding one member after another boarding and disembarking the musical carousal known as RENAISSANCE. Strange indeed that both founding members and even the second wavers were now gone yet had written enough musical material to nourish the bands coffers leaving this album with no songs written by anyone on it. The management of this band was in control and decided that this sound was worth developing. That sound being based around the classically trained piano skills of John Tout and the newly acquired vocal talents of Ann Haslam.

I can't think of a more appropriately named album than PROLOGUE for a band such as RENAISSANCE after all the turbulence of their lineup. It simply signifies a new beginning and almost the RENAISSANCE we all know. Not quite the classic lineup but Anne Haslam makes her debut here and what a fine performance it is. She more than shows her capabilities of replacing Jane Reif. Unfortunately this album really seems like a PROLOGUE to the following RENAISSANCE albums and feels like a teaser of what's to come. A damn good album but not a classic. These songs just don't seem as melodic and developed as the following albums that successfully utilized the perfect fusion of symphonic orchestration into their mix.

One of the strangest tracks in the RENAISSANCE canon and the best song on this album although seeming out of place is the outstanding song "Rajah Khan." This is a track that I wish the whole album sounded like and sounds like an Indian inspired melody introduced by heavy psych guitars followed by Ann's enchanting wordless vocalizations. There are many interesting developments in this 11 minute plus song which at times I find the bass reminding me of Steve Harris from Iron Maiden, a band I would never associate with RENAISSANCE. The vocal textures and Indian mood feel like a prologue to the grander idea fully unleashed on SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES. 3.5 rounded up