CAN YOU HEAR ME

This is a budget label re-issue of Disc 1 of the 1977 Royal Albert Hall concert originally released in 1997 as Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Part 1 [King Biscuit/BMG-70710 88020 2]. It has been re-sequenced by Disky, and packaging is minimal with no information of any kind about sources, otherwise its contents are the same as on the original release.

On the whole, performances are very good, a credible alternative when compared against the standard-setting Carnegie Hall set from two years earlier, though perhaps not so polished. The version of Prologue here [which is supposed to be the 'overture'] is an all-orchestral affair. The recording quality is superbly crisp, especially on the orchestra, but the album is badly marred by technical faults. A vicious buzz from an earth loop or similar plagues it throughout, becoming a severe problem during some quieter passages. The mixing also leaves a lot to be desired, though one wonders if there were unknown reasons for some poor fade-ins.

Worth having as a means to broaden your view of Renaissance as long as you can overcome the technical issues, though the original King Biscuit version is preferred.

The best of the Disky releases

This live album is at least live, although a ripped off version of Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Part 1. In other words, it should had been an uneccesary release if it was not for the fact that the original is very difficult to find these days. That's the only saving grace with this rip-off release. The music itself is excellent. In particular the closing Song Of Scheherazade. But before that song, we have been given excellent versions of Can You Understand, Can You Hear Me and Carpet Of The Sun. I have omitted Prologue which is an orchestral affair with little input from the band. Can You Understand is brilliant and in many ways the essence of this band. Well, the prog rock era of this band. Let's forget the ABBA era. The buzzing sound is pretty annoying on this album. It is most definate a lo-fi affair.

I cannot fault the music on this album at all. If you cannot find the original King Biscuit album, this album is a good replacement. I love it........ but have just ordered the King Biscuits albums from a shop in Japan. I guess those will replace my well worn out Disky albums.

3 stars.