*. Renaissance .*

Album: Grandine il Vento (2013)
Genre: Prog Rock (Symphonic/Folk)  /  UK

This is the first album by Renaissance in over 10 years, and it is definitely a great comeback. If you are a fan of Renaissance, you should certainly get this. I have only listened to this on the pre-release downloads available to the Kickstarter-backers, (who had pledged on kickstarter.com to make "Grandine il Vento" a reality) and it is a great album. Sure, it sounds a lot different from the 70s, but still a lot of the same qualities are present. The album will probably be more friendly to non-progheads, but at the same time have a lot to offer for fans of early prog rock. Some prog pieces to be mentioned are "Symphony Of Light" and "The Mystic And The Muse", which are the longest tracks on the album. Symphony Of Light is a 12-minute epic about Leonardo Da Vinci. It starts with a sort of operatic piece, where Annie Haslam shows she still can hit the high notes. After that it changes tempo. There are a bunch of tempo-changes in that song. The Mystic And The Muse originally from the EP of the same name is also a great piece. The instrumental piece in the beginning is among the highlights of the album. Also there are some great guest-appearances. On "Cry To The World", Ian Anderson plays flute. The flute mixes wonderfully with that song. Also, John Wetton sings a duet with Annie on "Blood Silver Like Moonlight", which is a beautiful ballad. Another favorite of mine on this album is "Air Of Drama". Very classically inspired (of course), and featuring an accordion. And of course the sad thing is that this is the last offering from guitarist/songwriter Michael Dunford, whom died from a cerebral hemorrhage. Michael Dunford is the one who has written the music to virtually all Renaissance songs. He died far too early, but this album is a fantastic "last album". If you like Renaissance, go buy this! If you are new to Renaissance, feel free to buy this, but you should probably also hear their early albums, like "Scheherazade", "Turn Of The Cards" and "Ashes Are Burning". I think this album will be enjoyed best, if you are familiar with Renaissance and know who they are. Great album! Review by "raph1" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  8.5 / 10   **MARVELLOUS**

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