Syn - Cast The First Stone (1980)

Syn was one of those bands who released one album and then disappeared without a trace. They were labeled as USA's answer to Renaissance. A label pretty much justified, based on this album. The female vocals is at times an Annie Haslam copycat. But where Annie Haslam had and still has the full range of tones, Syn's vocalist is a bit limited. Something she understand, because she is not trying to pull off anything she is incapable of doing. Hence, the vocals here are very good.

The similarities with Renaissance is obvious. But there are also some obvious differences too. Syn drops Renaissance's folk rock influences and goes for a much more pop orientated sound. That also includes a lot of funk/disco and some jazz influences too. Syn sounds very much like a party band from the 1970s. A type of music that must have gone down well on stage in USA. The lyrics are also very contemporary, dealing with love and nuclear holocaust. Very 1970s, in other words.

Both the sound and the quality of the songs are good. I guess Renaissance fans will really rate this album too as a good ersatz for the real thing. But in it's own right, this is a good album who stands on it's own two feet without any problems. I would recommend it.

3 points