SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES

This is a sheer beautiful masterpiece of symphonic prog (at this point a banner in truth kind of word). Renaissance's sixth studio album "Scheherazade And Other Stories" is their most ambitious record to date (and complete discography) and they never could top it later. Another peak record, like ELP's "Brain Salad Surgery". You can compare ELP and RENAISSANCE when you look to the highly classical influeces, but RENAISSANCE never played it rough like ELP, they played it in a masterful folky symphonic style, very sophisticated and artistic, with beautiful piano parts, wonderful vocals by Annie Haslam and haunting choirs and a full orchestra (!) in some parts. There is not a single misplaced moment on here which would disturb me, and that means something, specially when you look at the length of the title track. My fave is the short, but highly intense "The Vultures Fly High", which got an extremely haunting refrain and would be a perfect hit on prog radio, even I love all the masterpieces on here and ranks up to one of my all-time favourite records EVER.

If you like acoustic prog with classic, but still in a rock guide-line, than this is as essential as it can ever get. A masterpiece in it's own right!

Renaissance - "Scheherazade And Other Stories" rating: 9.5/10 points = 96 % on MPV scale = 5/5 stars

point-system: 0 - 3 points = 1 star / 3.5 - 5.5 points = 2 stars / 6 - 7 points = 3 stars / 7.5 - 8.5 points = 4 stars / 9 - 10 points = 5 stars

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive music