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Renaissance - Renaissance CD (album) cover

RENAISSANCE

Renaissance

 

Symphonic Prog

3.77 | 433 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars A seminal album of prog

I first came across Renaissance via an early 70's Island Records sampler called "Bumpers". The track selected from their first album for inclusion on the sampler was the appropriately named "Island". The choice of that track was fully justified, as it is the best track on this self titled album, and indeed one of the finest pieces in their archives. The track has two, possibly three distinct phases. The first is a three verse, three chorus song featuring Jane Relf's wonderful crystal clear vocals (Renaissance' signature vocalist, Annie Haslam, was not yet on board). It has a real late 60's, early 70's feel to it, Relf stretching her vocal talents to their upper limits. Phase two is a classical piano solo. I'm sure it is actually based on a classical piece, and although no direct reference is made to the original composer (something Renaissance would be guilty of again in the future), the sleeve does at least accredit "classical interpretations" to John Hawken and bassist Louis Cennamo. The final phase sees Relf return to vocalise over a gently building theme, before the piano solo melody returns to close the track. All this in about six wonderful minutes.

"Island" constitutes track three of five on the album, and for me it is by far the best. The opening track "Kings and queens" is an 11 minute piece which centres around a basic vocal theme sung by Keith Relf and piano recitals by Hawken. The piece is less accessible than might be expected by those more familiar with the Haslam era Renaissance, but it is well worth the effort. Bearing in mind too, that the album was not released in the 1970's but in the late 1960's, the piece is astonishingly courageous and innovative. This album predates by some time many of the bands and albums we acclaim as the pinnacles of prog.

"Innocence" leans slightly more towards the band's Yardbirds roots, especially in the Keith led vocal section which kicks it off. Hawkins takes over midway though, transforming the rock based first half into a classically influenced piano piece. Interestingly, despite his significant writing contribution, John Hawkin only receives one co-credit on the entire album for the brief "Wanderer", which he dominates. The final track, "Bullet", it a more orthodox blues influenced number, with harmonica and jazz tinged piano. The off key vocals actually now sound very contemporary, but the track as a whole can be just a bit too indulgent.

In all though, a wonderfully inventive album which has never gained the recognition it warrants as a cornerstone of the genre this site is dedicated to. If for no other reason, every prog fan should hear this album to further their understanding of how prog came about.

The striking sleeve illustration is "The downfall of Icarus" by Gennison.

Easy Livin | 4/5 |

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