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Renaissance - Turn of the Cards CD (album) cover

TURN OF THE CARDS

Renaissance

 

Symphonic Prog

4.15 | 745 ratings

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Mr. Mustard
4 stars Turn of the Cards, in my opinion, is one of the three essential Renaissance albums, being sandwiched between the other two. In this way, it is not much different from the previous; the melodic and orchestral touches are still there, and work to great effect.

Again, with this album you've got six songs; the three shorter ones have a more melodic component. A decent ballad can be found in 'I Think of You,' while 'Black Flame' and 'Cold is Being' offer some folky and uncharacteristically darker moments in parts. Perhaps too simple for the more technically inclined, it wouldn't be a Renaissance album without these more laid- back tunes.

With that said, the real interest here is the three longer songs. Here is where the band really shines, as they flawlessly combine their distinctive orchestral niche and progressive intensity all while retaining a strong sense of melody. There is something unique with each; 'Running Hard' has undeniable energy to kickstart the album in a strong way, while 'Things I Don't Understand' exhibits the vocal abilities of Annie Haslem, and 'Mother Russia' serves as an intense and epic, yet beautiful conclusion.

Overall, this is a great follow up to the previous album, building upon the sound and personality achieved there. Though not the best Renaissance album, 'Turn of the Cards' certainly is a must-listen for symphonic fans.

8/10

Mr. Mustard | 4/5 |

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