ENCHANTED CARESS

I love to listen to this album. It's got a sixties folk-feel to it, not really progressive music but nonetheless beautiful songs. The first track on this album "Nights in Paris" is one of my favourite songs ever. Beautiful in melody and arrangement with perfect vocal harmonies and that marvellous voice of Jane Relf. Her voice remained clear and pure throughout the years when for example Annie Haslam of Renaissance Mk.II seemingly has to prove that she is capable of singing operas. Not to be mistaken, I love and respect Annie's contribution to the Renaissance records but to my opinion she sometimes overdid the "look I can sing 5 octaves"-thing. "Enchanted caress" consists of previously unreleased material from recording sessions that were intended to lead to their third album but with Keith Relf being tragically killed by accident these plans were shelved. On this record the last unreleased recording of Keith Relf "All the falling angels" can be heard. Another highlight is the guitar dominated piece "Slaughter on 10th Avenue", an instrumental track which reminds me of Jan Akkerman's style. I wish Illusion had made more records then. Their blend of sixties psychedelic pop, folk, progressive elements and classical moods (the latter prominently appearing in Renaissance Mk.I's albums "Renaissance" and "Illusion") was unique and should have been developed.

They released an album in 2001 called "Through the fire" under the name of Renaissance Illusion" that goes more into the new age-pop direction. It's still nice an album to listen to and another chance to hear Jane Relf's natural-sounding voice again.