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infocat 
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 Posted: November 01 2012 at 22:07 |
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I'll just say I listened to azure d'or today and, other than the fact that it has no long songs (not really an issue; just an observation) it's still a nice prog album. Perhaps only 3 stars, but nothing for them to be embarrassed about. (Even "Only Angels Have Wings" is not bad.)
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rogerthat
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Posted: November 02 2012 at 10:39 |
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Well, it was certainly not a trainwreck but they needed something better to follow up the success of SFAS. They didn't deliver the goods at the end of the day and subsequently lost their contract with Warner Bros, let Tout and Sullivan go and basically lost the plot.
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kenethlevine
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Posted: November 02 2012 at 20:00 |
 rogerthat wrote:
Well, it was certainly not a trainwreck but they needed something better to follow up the success of SFAS. They didn't deliver the goods at the end of the day and subsequently lost their contract with Warner Bros, let Tout and Sullivan go and basically lost the plot.
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It's a shame - David Hentschel's production on ASFAS was a big part of the formula, but I think he produced Azure D'Or too. Seems like he may have been as responsible for losing the plot as the band.
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rogerthat
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Posted: November 02 2012 at 20:59 |
I tend to agree, though some of the songs too were kind of uninspired. Jekyll & Hyde for instance was not bad but a bit dated. It was styled a bit on Wind & Wuthering which was supposed to be Genesis's heroic last stand before they went pop. Pop needs to be catchy and infectious and there is really no Northern Lights on Azure. Winter Tree is pretty good but maybe they didn't push that one as much as the other songs. I have a concert video from 1979 and have traced several bootlegs from that period on youtube but I didn't find any live performance of Winter Tree. Which might have been a mistake (easy to say, of course, in hindsight) because it at least has a good groove and a haunting refrain without getting too involved.
Edited by rogerthat - November 03 2012 at 00:01
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kenethlevine
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Posted: November 03 2012 at 08:54 |
rogerthat wrote:
I tend to agree, though some of the songs too were kind of uninspired. Jekyll & Hyde for instance was not bad but a bit dated. It was styled a bit on Wind & Wuthering which was supposed to be Genesis's heroic last stand before they went pop. Pop needs to be catchy and infectious and there is really no Northern Lights on Azure. Winter Tree is pretty good but maybe they didn't push that one as much as the other songs. I have a concert video from 1979 and have traced several bootlegs from that period on youtube but I didn't find any live performance of Winter Tree. Which might have been a mistake (easy to say, of course, in hindsight) because it at least has a good groove and a haunting refrain without getting too involved.
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true, they seemed burned out. I don't even remember "Winter Tree" and I no longer own the album. I thought "Golden Key and "Kalynda" were both beautiful, and did enjoy "Jeckyll and Hyde", but that was about it. Actually, I wonder if "Bonjour Swansong" from the much maligned "Camera Camera" had been on Azure D'Or, could have been a more logical heir apparent to "Northern Lights".
Edited by kenethlevine - November 03 2012 at 10:14
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rogerthat
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Posted: November 03 2012 at 22:22 |
It would. Unfortunately, Betty Thatcher (RIP) hadn't parted ways with the band yet. 
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kenethlevine
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 11:17 |
rogerthat wrote:
It would. Unfortunately, Betty Thatcher (RIP) hadn't parted ways with the band yet. |
listened to Bonjour Swansong again and hadn't realized just how bad those synth sounds seem today, but I guess back then this would not have been a hindrance to becoming a hit single
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 16:26 |
I have been lurking in this thread fir several days and decided to spread some Renaissance love
First of all Annie Haslam is an incredible singer and deserves accolades, as a pioneer too when female fronted prog bands were scarce.
I loved their material on Ashes are Burning,
I would love to see this
as it has a stunning setlist
Disc 1 - ACT 1: Turn Of The Cards
1. Running Hard (9:47)
2. I Think Of You (3:14)
3. Things I Don't Understand (10:01)
4. Black Flame (6:57)
5. Cold Is Being (3:52)
6. Mother Russia (10:30)
Total Time 44:24
Disc 2 - ACT 2: Scheherazade And Other Stories
1. Trip To The Fair (11:25)
2. Vultures Fly High (3:31)
3. Ocean Gypsy (7:37)
4. Song Of Scheherazade (24:35)
5. The Mystic And The Muse (8:35)
Total Time 55:45
DVD:
1. Running Hard
2. I Think Of You
3. Things I Don't Understand
4. Black Flame
5. Cold Is Being
6. Mother Russia
7. Trip To The Fair
8. Vultures Fly High
9. Ocean Gypsy
10. Song Of Scheherazade
11. The Mystic And The Muse
The setlist looks better than live album
"In The Land of the Rising Sun" is the promotional live album for the final Renaissance studio release "Tuscany". As the concert promotes this 2000 album there are a lot of songs here from that album which is not a good thing as "Tuscany" was nowhere near as good as the earlier Renaissance material. From "Tuscany" the set list includes 'Lady From Tuscany', 'Pearls Of Wisdom', 'One Thousand Roses', and 'Dear Landseer'. It is interesting to hear them live but the real piece de resistance comes when the band belt out the old progressive classics.
It snice to hear her sing Moonlight Shadow tho not as great as Maggies version. also has some classic material from Ashes. etc
The best studio releases are undoubtedly the ones to grab hold of
Ashes, Cards, Scheherezade
Great band!
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 16:44 |
I just read the reviews of this reunion album
and no wonder the band struggled after such a mediocre attempt
if a band is going to reunite it should at least produce a decent album worth more than 2 or 3 stars. Oh some reviewers loved it but it was a patchy album, and from the songs i have heard from it nothing like it should have been.
it gave the band a chance to tour again but they still had to focus on their classic material or would be a dead loss.
its sad that the band came back and produced this and nothing since 2000 so its unlikely now except for the odd live album. its just tragic
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 16:53 |
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Atomic, Renaissance are actually putting the finishing touches to a new studio album for release in early 2013! I'm quite looking forward to it, even if it will take some serious `nostalgia/rose tinted glasses' to enjoy it.
I keep noticing that `Tuscany' gets a bad rap, but although I haven't heard it in years, I do remember it was quite decent, and showcased almost all facets of the band - adult pop, sophisticated ballads, and more ambitious thoughtful pieces. A few duds too, which is really not surprising. It definately showed their age, but it wasn't truly terrible.....from what I remember!
Sigh, I may as well go and grab it off the shelf for a listen now!
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 16:58 |
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I think I prefer Prologue to any of their subsequent releases. I guess Haslam's vocals are a bit too much for me. I enjoy them in small doses, but they're just too 'pretty' for me in the long run. Different strokes and all that I guess...
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 17:14 |
David, `Prologue is my favourite Renaissance album too! The full-blown classical elements hadn't totally kicked in yet, the album rocks a little more than anything after it, and Annie isn't quite as operatic and mannered as she gets from then on. I think she also sounds shamanistic and hypnotic on the track `Rajah Khan', kind of deranged and sinister too! 
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 17:23 |
I do love me some Rajah Khan - even if it sounds like an evil conqueror of peoples 
Annie does sound more shamanistic as you point out, which could be the reason why I prefer it over the classic albums. She reminds me a bit of Catherine Ribeiroux on it, but then again only a little hahah...
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 18:04 |
Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote:
Atomic, Renaissance are actually putting the finishing touches to a new studio album for release in early 2013! I'm quite looking forward to it, even if it will take some serious `nostalgia/rose tinted glasses' to enjoy it.
I keep noticing that `Tuscany' gets a bad rap, but although I haven't heard it in years, I do remember it was quite decent, and showcased almost all facets of the band - adult pop, sophisticated ballads, and more ambitious thoughtful pieces. A few duds too, which is really not surprising. It definately showed their age, but it wasn't truly terrible.....from what I remember!
Sigh, I may as well go and grab it off the shelf for a listen now! |
That is true too. I love Prologue but not as much as the big three that follow. I must get that album out and have a relisten as havent even reviewed it yet. I reviewed about 80 albums since I was bed ridden recovering from opration. Well at least I had the time as cant do anything else but type 
In all seriousness Renaissance new album news is exciting and i will be getting that definitely. Hope its a tad better than their 80s material.... It will be of course. I love Running Hard! Listening to it now... so powerful
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 18:08 |
wow I Spotified Renaissnace and theres tons on there - I sense a reviewing spree..........
Listening to Prologue now
Love the intro vocals, do do do do doooooooooooooooooo, do do do do doooooooooooooooo what a voice
and Sounds of the Sea, divine
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AtomicCrimsonRush
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 19:41 |
Well my reactions to Prologue are its a 3 star album with not enough really great stuff to award anymore. Kiev is not good with out Annies vox its no good.
Sounds of the sea is excellent as is Rajah,but its not a consistent album tho by no means bad.
Tuscany is okay - I just heard it and its pleasant and Annie sounds nice and its all just nice....
thTS THE problem really as its nothing special but still worth 3 stars also. Hard to bet their big 3 albums that are brilliant in places
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rogerthat
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Posted: November 04 2012 at 20:19 |
Yeah, I agree with you on Tuscany. If they only include Mystic and the Muse on the new album, it would still beat Tuscany for me. It is very much in the vein of their Novella/Song for all Seasons phase, ambitious and mysterious with dramatic vocals.
And I would totally recommend the new DVD. The band do well as people who have watched them these last few years report, but the sound and picture quality is also great. Great performances of Trip to the fair and Ocean Gypsy. |
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rogerthat
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Posted: November 05 2012 at 09:27 |
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother
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Posted: November 05 2012 at 14:51 |
rogerthat wrote:
Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote:
David, `Prologue is my favourite Renaissance album too! The full-blown classical elements hadn't totally kicked in yet, the album rocks a little more than anything after it, and Annie isn't quite as operatic and mannered as she gets from then on. I think she also sounds shamanistic and hypnotic on the track `Rajah Khan', kind of deranged and sinister too! |
I hear this a lot that Annie is operatic and I generally feel perplexed. I guess people say this because she trained under an opera singer? Her style sounds more like a folk-pop hybrid to me. Actually, given that I practically hate opera, I shouldn't have touched this band with a bargepole and then some had she gone all operatic. Her delivery on Mystic and Muse has a bit of that Bruce Dickinson-esque quality (in terms of sounding somewhat pompous) and I hope she doesn't go too far down that road. 
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Roger, you're spot on, even when I first wrote that response I thought to myself `Oh, but you know Annie's not really singing OPERA style', but I chose the lazy comparison just to make things easier. Sigh!
I fell into my own trap of lazy and inaccurate comparisons. And here I was earlier in this post grumbling about how no matter how ridiculous the comparison, most female fronted prog bands are compared to Renaissance and Annie Haslam. Next thing you know I'll be saying that Leslie Hunt from District 97 sounds like Annie Haslam!
I think Annie sings like a more sophisticated and classicaly trained version of a folk singer, which gives the band a more serious reputation?
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Evolver
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Posted: November 05 2012 at 15:17 |
I find it funny that many here think Renaissance was less popular than Genesis. In the seventies, Renaissance actually got quita a bit of airplay. Most of the general public knew nothing of genesis until they became Phil's pop band.
I heard Renaissance albums at many parties and functions in the seventies. Genesis was played only at hard core prog gatherings.
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