M- 1970 RENAISSANCE ILLUSION - Keith + Jane Relf PROG

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51

        RARE 1970 ISLAND RECORDS PROG/PSYCH *VINYL*        

                 RENAISSANCE

                     ILLUSION

\                             German - pink rimmed ISLAND - 85689 ET

MINTY CLEAN...and Scarce 1970 ((superior-sound)) German VINYL deluxe first pressing in lovely gatefold cover, of the second and final Renaissance album before they disbanded and that other crew took over the music w/diff prog style ...in otherwords, ex-Yardbirds vocalist, Keith Relf and his sister Jane fronted the original Renaissance who made two LP gems worthy of attention...here's the second:

This album was recorded in 1970 when the band was facing many changes that would eventually lead to the end of the band, hadn't it resurface with a complete different line-up without any of the original members in the future. Jim McCarty and Keith Relf were with health problems due to the extensive touring with Yardbirds and then with Renaissance, so they had to quit during the recording sessions. The other members tried to carry the flag, but only managed to finish the album with some guests that would become Renaissance permanent members. Louis Cemmano left to join Colosseum and after the completion of the album, the remaining original members started to tour, but Jane Relf felt no reason to continue after her brother departure and quit. The last original member, John Hawken, arranged for the other new members continue with the band and McCarty helped too the new band estabilish themselves, and they became the famous Renaissance, with Annie Haslan, Mike Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp, Terence Sullivan and Betty Tatcher writing lyrics. With all this mess it is difficult to expect a masterpiece, but they managed to deliver a superb album and it is a pity that they didn't continue, because it would be nice to have the first Renaissance and the second Renaissance producing songs together.

The first song is a fine psychedelic pop ballad named Love Goes On, with good keyboard and bass plus mellow singing lots of times the title of the song. There is another part with some lyrics sung very well by Jane Relf. The song is fine and probably intended as a single, but nothing near the real beauty of the album.

Golden Thread is an excellent tune with superb piano and guitar intro. The song then changes and it has great piano riff and beautiful vocalizations by Jane and then the rest of the band in a kind of chorus. Then there are verses sung by Keith Relf with a very good voice, much better than his singing in their debut album. The song has another instrumental section led by piano which is very beautiful.

The next song is another psychedelic ballad, but it is much better than Love Goes On. Love is all has excellent piano and acoustic guitar riff and singing by Keith and good chorus of him and his sister, that provides vocal harmonies during the verses. The very slow acid guitar melody is good also.

Mr. Pine is a song with a completely different line-up, including Mike Dunford composing and playing guitar and Terry Crowe singing (he played together with Dunford in a band prior to their going to Renaissance, named Nashville Teens), more symphonic, with nice piano, harpsichord and acoustic guitar and singing by Crowe and Jane in the first part, with a folk medieval feel. The second part is an excellent instrumental interlude with superb guitar and organ parts in a psychedelic and symphonic prog way. The music alternates between these styles.

Face of Yesterday is another piano-led song with great guitar melodies together with the piano, excellent bass and superb singing by Jane Relf, with a different tone, but always superb, making this song the best of the album. The piano melodies are excellent and the combination of then with the bass and the vocal melodies is out of this world.

Past Orbits of Dust is a progressive jamming with the guest electric piano player, Don Shin, that plays a very long piano arrangement with many improvisations. This song has a jazzy feel, with great jazzy bass and drums. There is some singing by the band and then by Jane (which is always very good). The song has an extensive instrumental jamming with the piano, good guitar, bass, drums and percussion with many variations and the singing eventually comes again after a long time and then there is another long instrumental part. The bass is impressive (tone and melody).

Altogether a strong adventure by Renaissance, that would change completely in the next album.

1. Love Goes On (2:51)
2. Golden Thread (8:15)
3. Love Is All (3:40)
4. Mr. Pine (7:00)
5. Face Of Yesterday (6:06)
6. Past Orbits Of Dust (14:39)

CONDITION: The cover: beautifully designed gatefold cover usually shows wear easily, this cover has been well protected over the years = M- no problems, clean and looks great!

The vinyl: is very smooth and clean, M-   looks and plays TOP level... 

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record