SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES

This is a seminal album from a group of classically trained rock musicians that dared to plunge head first into pure originality (Renaissance remain until today a heavy influence on a myriad of prog bands). Fans of classical music will be equally enthralled by this superlative progressive statement, being such an elegantly refined opus, and featuring the purest cristaline voice (courtesy of Annie Haslam, the female voice of Prog ), elevated to dizzying heights by arrangements under the masterful leadership of the piano (no synths anywhere! How ballsy!). A floating soundscape stretching way beyond the often restrictive parameters of rock this is powerfully intense music that squeezes out the slightest droplets of liquid beauty emanating from its pastoral history-laden themes . The tracks flow ceremoniously like molten gold (Trip to the Fair" ) , the now-classic and religiously covered by other proggers "Ocean Gypsy" , culminating in the main Piece de Resistance: "Song from Scheherazade" , based on one of the characters of the novel "A Thousand and One Knights" (also the inspiration for Russian composer Rimski-Korsakov) . An astonishing suite that lustily scale the loftiest peaks in progressive rock , a delicate cascade driven by a natural symphonic orchestra (not always successful with Deep Purple, Procol Harum, Wakeman and the Moody Blues wimping it out) and a story to boot. Entertainment fused with Knowledge, sounds like good prog to me! This is a timeless virtuoso performance of true splendor , a unique archive and tutorial to the new fan entering the wondrous world of our beloved genre. 5 flying carpets