Illusion (band)

Illusion

Illusion were a British band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist and Illusion on Island Records. Their music was classically-inspired, sophisticated, and polished.

Illusion were intended to be a reunion of the original line-up of Renaissance (whose second album was titled Illusion), but singer and guitarist Keith Relf died before the project was realised. McCarty moved from drums, replaced by McNeill, to play acoustic guitar and share vocals with Jane Relf, and Knightsbridge took over the guitarist's role.

Discography

Out of the Mist

(1977)

• • 1. Isadora
    2. Roads To Freedom
    3. Beautiful Country
    4. Solo Flight
    5. Everywhere You Go
    6. Face of Yesterday /note: A remake of a song from Renaissance's ILLUSION album (1971)
    7. Candles are Burning

  Illusion

Out of the Mist

Edsel Records (EDCD 369) UK 1977

Jim McCarty, vocal, acoustic guitar, percussion; Jane Relf, vocal; John Hawken, piano, synthesizers, mellotron, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, harpsichord; Louis Cennamo, bass; John Knightsbridge, electric and acoustic guitar; Eddie McNeil, drums, percussion

Tracklist: 1. Isadora — 6:56 2. Roads to Freedom — 3:53 3. Beautiful Country — 4:21 4. Solo Flight — 4:23 5. Everywhere You Go — 3:18 6. Face of Yesterday — 5:45 7. Candles Are Burning — 7:10

total time 35:55

This album is reviewed in Exposé #12.

Illusion

(1978)

• • 1. Madonna Blue
    2. Never Be The Same
    3. Louis' Theme
    4. Wings Across The Sea
    5. Cruising Nowhere
    6. Man Of Miracles /note: posthumously uses lyrics written by Keith Relf
    7. The Revolutionary

Enchanted Caress

(recorded 1979, released 1990) These are demos for a planned third album, plus a 1976 Keith Relf demo and a John Knightsbridge solo instrumental.

• • 1. Nights in Paris
    2. Walking Space
    3. The Man Who Loved the Trees
    4. Getting Into Love Again
    5. As Long as We're Together
    6. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (John Knightsbridge)
    7. Living Above Your Head
    8. Crossed Lines
    9. You Are The One
    10. All The Falling Angels (Keith Relf)

Through The Fire

(2001) (by Renaissance Illusion, featuring McCarty,Cennamo,Hawken & Jane Relf)

• • 1. One More Turn of the Wheel
    2. Good Heart
    3. Glorious One
    4. Through The Fire
    5. Blowing Away
    6. Mystery Of Being
    7. Beat Of The Earth
    8. Beyond The Day
    9. My Old Friend
    10. Through The Fire (Reprise)

Members

• Jane Relf vocals
• Jim McCarty vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
• John Hawken keyboards
• Louis Cennamo bass
• John Knightsbridge guitars
• Eddie McNeill drums

External links

Interview links

• Interview with Jim McCarty on Trilogy Rock (Spain)