SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES

As much as I personally enjoy the first Renaissance line-up and their two albums there is no denying that the second line-up with Annie Haslam and company were the more successful to most fans. I'm not sure I agree with that but Scheherazade remains a beloved symphonic classic to many. It's very easy to understand why: gorgeous classical melodies, stunning arrangements, great instrumental performances, Annie's vocals, and a 24-minute epic of great ambition. The writer and guitarist Michael Dunford noted in 1997 that "Scheherazade meant something because it was one side of an album, like a suite and to be involved in something like that and recording it fully orchestrally with the LSO was wonderful, as was Carnegie Hall of course. To perform in such a glorious venue, with the New York Philharmonic, for 3 sold out nights was absolutely fantastic."

The album features Renaissance at their elegant and dramatic best. "Trip to the Fair" pulls you into the material with masterful storytelling and sound effects creating the imagery. The second and only short track "The Vultures Fly High" sounds like it was intended for radio but it is a swooping, dramatic piece of writing anyway. A brisk pace with crisp, distinct instrumentation and lovely vocals. "Ocean Gypsy" is a very slow and pretty track that is letter perfect in the aesthetic respect but is missing something, just haven't figured out what. No worry, the money shot here is the 9-part side long title track that is one of the finest examples of classical progressive. Sure it had been done before by this time but Renaissance really took it to their own level with a clarity and perfection deserving of the attention. It was the group's interpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and features full orchestration and grandiosity on a scale few bands could have pulled off. The story is about a betrayed Sultan who exacts revenge by sacrificing a young woman every day until Scheherazade concocted a clever plan to derail the Sultan's horrible actions. This is definitely an album (and band) that will be too precious and delicate for some prog-heads who love heavy rock. However if you're into classical music, female fronted bands, or lighter symphonic groups with good piano, this is an album you'll need to check out. In many respects, this album owes a debt to "Days of Future Passed." Think about the sounds and arrangements-there are many similarities, though the Moodies were about 8 years ahead of Renaissance on the "breaking new ground" index. 7/10

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