RENAISSANCE

Ashes Are Burning – An Anthology – Live In Concert ESOTERIC

Sweet capture of the renaissance of Renaissance.

For anyone who has never dabbled in the curious, baroque world of Renaissance, Ashes Are Burning – Live In Concert is a great place to begin exploring. Leader Annie Haslam’s voice is in fine form and keyboard player/ musical director Rave Tesar (who has been with them since 2001) ensures an authenticity to the original records that’s admirable.

Backed by a full orchestra, this show offers an overview of Renaissance’s entire career. Although they have experienced a great deal of personnel turbulence across the years, each new member has added to their own unique texture. Opener Out/Day Of The Dreamer from 1978’s A Song For All Seasons evokes Genesis so much, it’s little surprise that the track’s original producer was David Hentschel.

There’s added weight with founding member Jim McCarty playing on the group’s debut single, Island, from the brief period of time before Haslam joined; its optimistic wash of folk and pop locates them right at the heart of the Fairports and Pentangles of the age. But it’s the title track, from 1973’s Ashes Are Burning, that brings everything sweetly together: its 16-plus-minutes never outstay their welcome.