Turn Of The Cards is the fifth studio album by English band Renaissance, formed in 1969.
With Turn Of The Cards wrapped in a handsome tarot-themed cover designed by design agency Hipgnosis, Renaissance continues the line-up from previous album Ashes Are Burning with Annie Haslam (vocals), Jon Camp (bass, acoustic guitar), John Tout (keyboards) and Terrence Sullivan (drums). In addition, founding member Michael Dunford (acoustic guitar) returned to the band after a stint as a songwriter. The lyrics are still written by poet Betty Thatcher.
So the line-up is stable, what about the music? Stylistically, too, Turn Of The Cards is very much along the same lines as Ashes Are Burning. In other words, it’s the familiar and safe Renaissance: dramatic and mostly acoustic piano-driven symphonic prog with a touch of symphony orchestra. There are some minor differences. The folk element, which was still quite strong on Ashes Are Burning, has diminished and the band is putting more emphasis on its symphonic side. But the difference is not radical.
But the main thing is that the material itself is of very high quality. Turn Of The Cards has six tracks (three of which are nine minutes long) and there is little to complain about. In particular, the three longest songs ”Running Hard”, ”Things I Don’t Understand” and ”Mother Russia”, which form the backbone of the album, are definitely among Renaissance’s best.
The album opener ”Running Hard” features a handsome two-minute piano intro borrowed from composer Jehan Alain’s organ composition ”Litanies” (1937). Tout has arranged an elegant virtuoso piano part from the original four-minute composition.
”Mother Russia”, which deals with the Soviet Union’s ruthless persecution of dissidents with chilling effectiveness, has the most dramatic and finest orchestral arrangements on the album (again by Jimmy Horowitz). Annie Haslam’s vocals are also at their best on the track. If I had to choose one Renaissance song above the others ”Mother Russia” would definitely be a strong favourite.
Punished for his written thoughts
Starving for his fame
Working blindly, building blocks
Number for a name, his blood flows frozen to the snow
A slightly more unusual sound is represented by ”Cold Is Being” which is a version of the ”Adagio in G minor” usually attributed to Tomaso Albinoni, although in reality the original composer was Remo Giazotto. ”Cold Is Being” is a sombre anthem sung convincingly by Haslam with only the organ in the background. It’s hard to imagine many sadder songs in the progressive rock canon. The song positively wallows in sadness. I’m sure some people find it disturbing, but I’ve always found it to be a very impressive and beautiful song. Some even find the Renaissance version corny. I’ve never understood that.
The album has a slightly thin and unnecessarily trebly sound. The bass guitar of the talented Jon Camp is buried far too deep in the mix.
Turn Of The Cards is an album where Renaissance makes the most of their familiar recipe in the best possible way. Renaissance made a few more great albums in the 70s, but Turn Of The Cards remains the band’s brightest gem.
Best tracks: ”Running Hard”, ”Mother Russia”, ”Cold Is Being”
Author: JANNE YLIRUUSI
Tracks:
1. Running Hard (9:37)
2. I Think of You (3:07)
3. Things I Don’t Understand (9:29)
4. Black Flame (6:23)
5. Cold Is Being (3:00)
6. Mother Russia (9:18)
Annie Haslam: vocals Michael Dunford: acoustic guitar, backing vocals Jon Camp: bass, vocals John Tout: keyboards, backing vocals Terence Sullivan: drums, percussion, backing vocals
Producer: Renaissance, Dick Plant and Richard Gottehrer
Label: BTM
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