TURN OF THE CARDS

Renaissance

Symphonic Prog

4.15 | 746 ratings

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Dark Nazgul

So-so.

A good album, but not essential. After the masterpiece, the previous "Ashes Are Burning", frankly I expected more.

Nothing has changed in terms of music composition, again the style was highly influenced by classical music (especially Russian and French composers). Initially, the songs come to life by the guitar of Dunford and then are enhanced by Tout's piano riffs and, unfortunately, from excessive orchestral arrangements. The problem with this album is just that: the way in which the orchestra is used. In my opinion "rock and orchestra" is good when orchestra shines its own light, that is when many sections are devoted almost exclusively to it. It 's the case, for example, of "Atom Heart Mother" by Pink Floyd, or "Song Of Scheherazade". But when the orchestra is used only to provide redundancy to the sound, the problems start. Undoubtedly, the compositions acquire more grandeur, but at the same time the atmospheres become tedious and unnecessarily pompous (I think especially of David Palmer's arrangements for Jethro Tull, many things by Fruupp, or albums like "From Genesis To Revelation by Genesis or "Time And A Word " by Yes).

Songs like Running Hard and Mother Russia are beautiful but inevitably weighed down by the orchestra. Considering that I Think of You and So Cold Is Being (the usual boring review of Albinoni's adagio) are mediocre tracks, the rating of the album drops dramatically. Fortunately, Black Flame and the more complex Things I Don't Understand are very good, almost to the levels of the best songs of "Ashes Are Burning."

As always, excellent performances by Haslam and Tout.

rating: 6/10.

Best song: Things I Don't Understand

Dark Nazgul | 3/5 | 2011-4-8

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