RENAISSANCE

If any group deserves to be labeled symphonic prog then RENAISSANCE surely fits that bill like no other. From the very first notes laid out on their very first album it was apparent that this band meant business and had the talent to pull it off. In fact, I can't think of ANY other entity in the rock world who released an album in 1969 who even came close to the virtuosic abilities of John Hawken's splendid piano playing allowing the whole thing to come together in a truly classical fashion reminding me of the truest fusion of rock, classical and Renaissance music with a touch of folk and psychedelia. I have read that parts of this album are actually reworkings of Beethoven. One of the things about this album is that despite being the pre-Ann Haslam era, Jane Reif manages to sound just like her at times.

So in the timeline of RENAISSANCE it begins from the implosion of the Yardbirds which led Keith Reif and Jim McCarty to begin this lineup which would then itself implode leaving no original members by the time we get to the classic lineup with Ann Haslam. So quite a miracle indeed that they would carry the torch so wonderfully of the sound that had been established on this debut that set the foundation of what RENAISSANCE would be known for, namely symphonic classically inspired rock that is beautifully arranged and addictive to say the least. Although this album isn't as fantastic as what would come it is certainly not one to ignore either. Musically RENAISSANCE was completely developed from the getgo but it would take Ann Haslam to make the sound complete.