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Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning CD (album) cover

ASHES ARE BURNING

Renaissance

 

Symphonic Prog

4.26 | 875 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ebil0505
5 stars I truly do believe this album deserves five stars. It is a masterpiece of progressive rock, in my opinion, and it is so different from many other A-list prog bands. Annie Haslam's voice may be the most beautiful voice in progressive rock. Their style of playing only justifies their name and sends the listener to the Renaissance of Prog.

"Can You Understand?" has been a favorite of mine for what seems like years, though it's probably just a bit over a year. The piano instantly caught my attention and then took me for a ride once the song really picked up. Some of Haslam's best singing is in this song, especially when paired with such elegant lyrics. This ~10 minute song is a fine reminder why we enjoy dedicating our full attention to the music we listen to.

"Let it Grow" is a gentle song (like several Renaissance hits) and will not disappoint the love-struck listener who pours his/her heart out of their ears. Don't take that too seriously.

"On the Frontier" develops very nicely. If you ever find yourself in a good mood, this song will happily sing along with you. The transitions between each section smooth over nicely, which makes the song sound like a miniature escape all by itself.

"Carpet of the Sun" is the hit of the album. Want a catchy tune that sounds like the Renaissance era without being too classic? Here ya go.

"At the Harbour" borrows Claude Debussy's Sunken Cathedral piano concerto to beautifully meld this spacious melody. Haslam shows off her range and delicateness during the peak of the chorus, her voice like a shower of sound.

"Ashes are Burning" is, for me, the peak of the album. It starts off just as you'd expect a Renaissance song to start off; with a catchy rhythm and dreamy instrumentals. Once this song truly peaks after some nice changes and mood swings, the final build up is epic and ends the album perfectly. Fans of Yes's "Starship Trooper" would probably like this ending as it is their version of "Wurm", theoretically speaking of course.

I highly recommend this album for some easy listening. Gentle yet memorable, this album has it's unique symphonic sound that gives new meaning to the subgenre.

ebil0505 | 5/5 |

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