Record Reviews

ARMAGEDDON ~ ARMAGEDDON ESOTERIC 2150 (Barcode: 5013929725027) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2009 Only album by the short-lived Prog / Hard Rock band ArmageddonFind albums by this artist formed by keyboardist / vocalist Keith RelfFind albums by this artist (founding member of YardbirdsFind albums by this artist and then RenaissanceFind albums by this artist), guitarist Martin Pugh (SteamhammerFind albums by this artist), bassist Louis Cennamo (Renaissance, Steamhammer) and US drummer Bobby Caldwell. With strong Prog / Blues / Rock background the group eventually opted for a heavy Hard Rock sound, which dominates this, their only album. The group folded shortly after the album was released, which was followed by Relf´s tragic death in 1976. The album is considered to be an iconic Hard Rock album, completely overlooked at the time, but now considered a classic. In retrospect it is definitely a milestone of the genre, emphasizing the saying: They don´t make music like that any more! For guitar freaks this is heaven on earth, but most Classic Rock fans should have a field day with this.

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ILLUSION ~ ILLUSION ESOTERIC 2260 (Barcode: 5013929736023) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1978 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd and last album by the British Prog group IllusionFind albums by this artist, which in fact was just another version of the legendary RenaissanceFind albums by this artist, reformed by the group´s five original founding members: singer Jane RelfFind albums by this artist, her brother guitarist Keith RelfFind albums by this artist, who died tragically before the debut album was released and was replaced by John KnightsbridgeFind albums by this artist, bassist Louis CenamoFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist, and keyboardist John HawkenFind albums by this artist. With the addition of the drummer Eddie McNeilFind albums by this artist the band came together and recorded some superb music, similar to the first two Renaissance albums. This is too good to be forgotten and this new edition is a most welcome opportunity to listen to this music again.

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ILLUSION ~ OUT OF THE MIST ESOTERIC 2259 (Barcode: 5013929735927) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2011 This is the 1st album by the British Prog group IllusionFind albums by this artist, which in fact was just another version of the legendary RenaissanceFind albums by this artist, reformed by the group´s five original founding members: singer Jane RelfFind albums by this artist, her brother guitarist Keith RelfFind albums by this artist, who died tragically before the debut album was released and was replaced by John KnightsbridgeFind albums by this artist, bassist Louis CenamoFind albums by this artist, guitarist / vocalist Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist, and keyboardist John HawkenFind albums by this artist. With the addition of the drummer Eddie McNeilFind albums by this artist the band came together and recorded some superb music, similar to the first two Renaissance albums. This is too good to be forgotten and this new edition is a most welcome opportunity to listen to this music again.

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RENAISSANCE ~ ILLUSION ESOTERIC 2232 (Barcode: 5013929733220) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2010 2nd album by the legendary British Prog group RenaissanceFind albums by this artist, founded in 1969 by ex-YardbirdsFind albums by this artist vocalist / harmonica player Keith RelfFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist. Joined by keyboardist John HawkenFind albums by this artist and bassist Louis CennamoFind albums by this artist and fronted by female vocalist Jane RelfFind albums by this artist, Renaissance soon became the epitome of the emerging Progressive Rock and their amazing debut album was destined to become a cornerstone of the genre. A perfect mixture of Classical Music, with long acoustic piano cadencas, Jazz, Folk and Rock, the album´s beautiful melodies and innovative atmosphere of mystery and grandeur created, perhaps for the first time, the splendor of Prog at its best. There´s little need to expand about this album, as in time it has become an absolute classic and any Prog fan wouldn´t consider this album not being included in his collection. An absolute must!

Updated: 23/08/2024Posted:

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

RENAISSANCE ~ INNOCENTS & ILLUSIONS CASTLE 874 (Barcode: 5050159187423) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2004 1st & 2nd albums by the UK Prog band RenaissanceFind albums by this artist, which symbolizes the genre more then any other outfit of the era. Founded by two ex-YardbirdsFind albums by this artist members (Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist & Keith RelfFind albums by this artist) and featuring Jane RelfFind albums by this artist as the lead singer, the band recorded those two excellent albums, which combined strong classical influences (emphasized by the acoustic piano parts) with rock rhythms and lyrical atmosphere. Long (over 10 minures) suites with lengthy instrumental passages are well developed and beautifully executed. This particular incarnation of the band dissolved following the release of the 2nd album, to be re-born with the phenomenal Annie HaslamFind albums by this artist as lead vocalist. This elegant reissue collects all the output of Renaissance Mk. I. A must!

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

RENAISSANCE ~ RENAISSANCE ESOTERIC 2231 (Barcode: 5013929733121) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2010 Debut album by the legendary British Prog group RenaissanceFind albums by this artist, founded in 1969 by ex-YardbirdsFind albums by this artist vocalist / harmonica player Keith RelfFind albums by this artist and drummer Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist. Joined by keyboardist John HawkenFind albums by this artist and bassist Louis CennamoFind albums by this artist and fronted by female vocalist Jane RelfFind albums by this artist, Renaissance soon became the epitome of the emerging Progressive Rock and this amazing debut album was destined to become a cornerstone of the genre. A perfect mixture of Classical Music, with long acoustic piano cadencas, Jazz, Folk and Rock, the album´s beautiful melodies and innovative atmosphere of mystery and grandeur created, perhaps for the first time, the splendor of Prog at its best. There´s little need to expand about this album, as in time it has become an absolute classic and any Prog fan wouldn´t consider this album not being included in his collection. An absolute must!

Updated: 23/08/2024Posted:

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YARDBIRDS ~ THE ULTIMATE LIVE AT THE BBC REPERTOIRE 1464 (Barcode: 4009910146422) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 - 1968 Released: 2024 This is a 4CD Box Set, which collects all known live BBC recordings by the seminal British Rock group The YardbirdsFind albums by this artist, recorded between March 1965 and March 1968, presenting ninety tracks, twenty-eight of which are previously unreleased. As usual with BBC recordings, the sound quality (in most cases) is absolutely stunning, considering the equipment that existed at the time. For some strange reason The Yardbirds seem to be almost completely forgotten these days, but considering the fact that during the first period of their existence between 1963 and 1968 they had among their ranks the three top British lead guitar players of all time: Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist and Jimmy PageFind albums by this artist and they were de facto the origin of Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist. The lineup, which recorded the music on this Box Set, includes vocalist Keith RelfFind albums by this artist, drummer Jim McCartyFind albums by this artist, rhythm guitarist Chris DrejaFind albums by this artist, bassist Paul Samwell-SmithFind albums by this artist and Beck or Page on lead guitar. When Samwell-Smith quit in 1966, Dreja became the bassist and the group continued as a quartet. Clapton is not playing on any of the BBC recordings, despite the fact that some other releases claim the contrary. Listening to the chronologically organized material is like watching a documentary, which explicitly explains how British Rock developed from the humble roots of copying American Blues and Rhythm And Blues, into a full-fledged British Rock, with exquisite new original material and way of expression, which influenced everything that happened in the years to come. The last track in this collection is no other than “Dazed And Confused”, which of course explains how things proceeded from where the first incarnation of The Yardbirds disbanded. Overall, this is a brilliant piece of musical document, which deserves to be heard by every serious music lover, in order to comprehend how Rock music developed in UK. Although a large portion of these tracks were previously released already, it’s a neat way to have a complete collection in one Box Set. The package includes a booklet with historical notes, which sadly I find lacking the proper historical perspective, but they do offer a lot of details, which I find less interesting. It is a collector’s treasure trove by all means!

Updated: 23/08/2024Posted: 23/08/2024

CD 4 Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend