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)
