IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN

This is a live album recorded during their promotion of the Tuscany album. An album I do not like. But that aside, I am a fan of Renaissance. That is; their prog rock albums. I rate this band among my favorite five prog rock bands. Period.

This is a double album. Disc 1 includes the short, more pop orientated songs. The songs here is not bad at all. Disc 2 is the highlight of this live album and I play that one far more often than disc 1. The reason is, and you may have guessed it, that the songs here are the prog rock songs. A good version of their classic Trip To The Fair is along a good reason to buy this live album. It was my sole reason to buy it.

The sound here is excellent. The band does a brilliant job. Annie Haslam is as good as gold.... as usual. But I get the feeling that the band is more laidback on this live album than on the previous classics (Carnegie Hall) and other live albums. The band is not as alive as they were then. The lack of audience participation is also a bit of a downer. The band sounds tired. But besides of that, this is a good, cosy live album which will please all fellow fans of this band. I like it, but I do not rate as highly as their previous live albums.

3 stars