Renaissance Ashes Are Burning CD - Import

With electric guitarist Andy Powell sitting in on the title track, Renaissance delivered its best, and first fully formed album, mixing Russian, French, and Indian influences in musical settings that are both lively and elegant. The title track is one of the few lengthy progressive-rock pieces of the era that holds up, and the rest of the material runs the gamut from folk ("Carpet of the Sun") to Impressionist ("At the Harbor"), all of it hauntingly beautiful and enlivening. Reissued in 1993 by One Way Records, with excellent sound. ~ Bruce Eder

Born out of the ashes of The Yardbirds, Renaissance underwent a transformation in the early 70s, following personnel changes and the arrival of singer Annie Haslam & acoustic guitarist Michael Dunford. The group developed a unique style that fused strands of folk, classical and pop music. First released in 1973, "Ashes Are Burning" features Dunford's melodies and the lyrics of poet Betty Thatcher. The band established its style with six romantic, yet dynamic compositions augmented by an orchestra-including the title track that became known as the band's anthem. Melodic, cleverly arranged & subtly performed, each song is a model of good taste, imbued with an indefinable magic. This edition comes in mini LP vinyl replica packaging with the original artwork, including a booklet with authoritative and extensive liner notes (including an interview with Michael Dunford) by respected and journalist Chris Welch.

All songs written or co-written by Thatcher.

Rennaissance: Annie Haslam (vocals), Michael Dunford (acoustic guitar), Andy Powell (guitar), John Tout (keyboards, vocals), John Camp (bass, vocals), Terence Sullivan (drums, percussion, vocals).Mojo (Publisher) (p.138) - "[A]n ambitious but appealing classical, jazz and folk collision."