Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning (1973)

Year: October 1973 (CD 2006)
Label: Repertoire Records (Europe), REP 5078
Style: Art Rock, Symphonic Rock
Country: London, United Kingdom
Time: 40:43
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 290 Mb

Somewhat unusually, the longest history with the band is with two outside members, composer Michael Dunford and poet Betty Thatcher, who together are responsible for the music and lyrics on all but one track of the album. Both were involved in the making of the 1970 Illusion album, but are not actual members of the band. Dunford officially joined the band with the next album. The only song Dunford was not on Ashes Are Burning to compose is ”On The Frontier”, written by Renaissance founding member Jim McCarty. Who was no longer a member of the band at this point. Confusing? A bit! Thus, Ashes Are Burning is a very rare prog album where all the material is written by someone other than the band members.
Ashes Are Burning is by far the most successful album of Renaissance’s career so far and started a three-album golden era for the band. The album smoothly blends influences from both folk and classical music (no direct quotes are spared). The semi-acoustic sound was an important part of how Renaissance distinguished themselves from other progressive bands. And the acoustic aspect was especially emphasized on this Ashes Are Burning album. Instead of electric guitars and synthesizers, it is John Tout’s classical-style piano that takes centre stage, and the impressive, gentle yet powerful, five-octave vocals of Annie Haslam, who had studied opera singing. Tout also makes restrained use of synthesizers but, pleasingly, sticks mostly to piano, which was rare for early 70s rock bands. And well, for rock bands of any era really.
Although Renaissance draws much of its influence from folk, the grand symphonic nature of the band’s music also clearly distinguishes it from the core of the folk scene. A rock-like kick to the sound is added by Jon Camp’s very Chris Squire-like bass playing and of course Sullivan’s relatively straightforward drumming. Camp and his bass are given plenty of space, as the only electric guitar on the album is on the closing title track, where guesting Wishbone Ash guitarist Andy Powell gets to squeeze in a long guitar solo.
(full version: pienemmatpurot.com/2023/10/10/review-renaissance-ashes-are-burning-1973/)

01. Can You Understand (09:51)
02. Let It Grow (04:14)
03. On The Frontier (04:55)
04. Carpet Of The Sun (03:31)
05. At The Harbour (06:48)
06. Ashes Are Burning (11:20)

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