GRANDINE IL VENTO [AKA: SYMPHONY OF LIGHT]

A real prog album from the originators of Symphonic Prog. This elegant work is the best and most progressive album released by Renaissance since Novella in 1977. Annie Haslem is still in great voice at this late stage (amazing!) and the songs are true classical symphonic works that never veer toward the cliched. The standout songs are Grandine Il Vento, Symphony Of Light, The Mystic and The Muse and Blood Silver Like Moonlight (a beautiful duet with Annie sharing vocals with the great John Wetton.) My only complaint that I have is that I find some of Annie's "all is love and bliss" lyrics a bit trying on a couple of the songs. Aside from that, her lyrics are much improved from her solo work and the last Renaissance album,Tuscany, and are outstanding on the rest of the songs. New keyboard man Rave Tesar is an equal to the greats, John Hawkin and John Tout, that proceeded him and is probably the person most responsible for the sound of this album. BTW, I purchased an expanded edition of this album retitled A Symphony Of Light which includes three additional songs; one composed and recorded in honor of late guitarist/songwriter Michael Dunford that was, I believe, recorded just a few months after the Grindine Il Vento album was completed. Look out for it if you do not already own this album.