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SteveG View Drop Down
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Tom Ozric View Drop Down
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Just to reiterate - I really dig Camera Camera.
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Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

I found Annie to be quite serious and focused on the recent Turn Of The Cards/Scheherazade DVD/CD concert and it came off quite well. One of my favs, btw.

She did do that bit of banter with the crowd just before Mystic and the Muse.  It occurred to met that maybe she's just trying to avoid that famous high pitched giggle of hers.  At her age, she has to take extra care of her voice, as strong as it may be. 
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I found Annie to be quite serious and focused on the recent Turn Of The Cards/Scheherazade DVD/CD concert and it came off quite well. One of my favs, btw.
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:



Hmm I'm not sure.  When I saw them in 1977 my recollection was that she was pretty serious.  But there is also every indication the whole night was an off night for them.  In 1982 I remember them being less serious and more fun.  Then I saw them a couple of times shortly before Dunford passed and then a couple after.  TBH my memory is fuzzy about the first 2, other than one of them they were just an opening act.  In the last two their has certainly been some lightness but perhaps more seriousness.  She definitely doesn't bop around a lot on the stage though!
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, she will go into a shell if things aren't going well, which is understandable.  But lately, even in shows where she is in fine voice and the band is doing well too, she seems, well, definitely bright and cheerful but not much of her old wit in evidence.
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Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:

one area where guitarist Mark Lambert really excels is in his backing vocals which seem stronger than what the group had in their heyday.  But he also played a cracking lead guitar solo in Ashes the last time I saw them, which was a surprise!

I think perhaps the late Michael Dunford was not very comfortable with/didn't like electric guitar.  He had mentioned something to that effect in an interview IIRC.  

By the way, Ken, you have seen the band before and after Dunford's demise?  Is it just my impression or has Annie grown a little serious on stage post Dunford's demise?  Not dead serious but at least in the Union Chapel DVD (and other vids I have seen on youtube from the time), she seems to be more formal and there's less of the childlike prancing around of old.  Could also be her back, for all I know. Cry

Hmm I'm not sure.  When I saw them in 1977 my recollection was that she was pretty serious.  But there is also every indication the whole night was an off night for them.  In 1982 I remember them being less serious and more fun.  Then I saw them a couple of times shortly before Dunford passed and then a couple after.  TBH my memory is fuzzy about the first 2, other than one of them they were just an opening act.  In the last two their has certainly been some lightness but perhaps more seriousness.  She definitely doesn't bop around a lot on the stage though!
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Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:

one area where guitarist Mark Lambert really excels is in his backing vocals which seem stronger than what the group had in their heyday.  But he also played a cracking lead guitar solo in Ashes the last time I saw them, which was a surprise!

I think perhaps the late Michael Dunford was not very comfortable with/didn't like electric guitar.  He had mentioned something to that effect in an interview IIRC.  

By the way, Ken, you have seen the band before and after Dunford's demise?  Is it just my impression or has Annie grown a little serious on stage post Dunford's demise?  Not dead serious but at least in the Union Chapel DVD (and other vids I have seen on youtube from the time), she seems to be more formal and there's less of the childlike prancing around of old.  Could also be her back, for all I know. Cry
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Points: 8955 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2017 at 22:07
one area where guitarist Mark Lambert really excels is in his backing vocals which seem stronger than what the group had in their heyday.  But he also played a cracking lead guitar solo in Ashes the last time I saw them, which was a surprise!
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Just got the "Union Hall" DVD yesterday. Another winner! And you're right Roger, the  new guitarist does play Northern Lights differently than the late Micky Dunford! Smile

Yeah, Lambert plays a somewhat simplified version of the riff.   There are other such minor adjustments they have made.  Not complaining, because the final product is still great.  There's always the B&W Song of Scheherazade DVD for those who want to see full blooded, young Renaissance at their best.  The Sight & Sound concert is also out on DVD now but very expensive because they are offering that video plus audio for all of Ren's BBC appearances in one package.
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SteveG View Drop Down
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Just got the "Union Hall" DVD yesterday. Another winner! And you're right Roger, the  new guitarist does play Northern Lights differently than the late Micky Dunford! Smile

Edited by SteveG - March 11 2017 at 10:35
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

I just broke down and ordered "Union Chapel". I've put it off for too long. Perhaps I needed a break from the group after Michael Dunford passed away.

Thumbs Up  Hope you will enjoy it.
Your review of the DVD convinced me, Roger. I know that it will be great!

Glad to help.Smile
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SteveG View Drop Down
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Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

I just broke down and ordered "Union Chapel". I've put it off for too long. Perhaps I needed a break from the group after Michael Dunford passed away.

Thumbs Up  Hope you will enjoy it.
Your review of the DVD convinced me, Roger. I know that it will be great!
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Points: 9869 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rogerthat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2017 at 19:14
Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

I just broke down and ordered "Union Chapel". I've put it off for too long. Perhaps I needed a break from the group after Michael Dunford passed away.

Thumbs Up  Hope you will enjoy it.
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SteveG View Drop Down
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I just broke down and ordered "Union Chapel". I've put it off for too long. Perhaps I needed a break from the group after Michael Dunford passed away.
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Originally posted by kenethlevine kenethlevine wrote:

Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

'Off topic':  Listening to Grandine Il Vinto off the Union Chapel concert DVD and Annie sings way better here than on the studio recording, which is positively weird (but has happened before).  The chorus is strong, not at all shaky and hesitating like it sounded on the recording (at least to me it did). 

I barely noticed the song "Grandine Il Vento" until I saw Renaissance live in maybe 2013 or 2014, when the performance blew me away.   It's a song made for the current Annie, and it really comes alive in the concert hall

I got through Symphony of Light and Mystic as well and on these tracks too her singing is stellar.  It's a cliche anyway, but like on Mystic she doesn't slide her voice into that last big high note (a whopping D6 IIRC) and takes it flush with astounding power. You can see from the audience reaction that they too really loved it and kept clapping for a long time. 


Edited by rogerthat - March 03 2017 at 07:45
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Points: 8955 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2017 at 07:36
Originally posted by rogerthat rogerthat wrote:

Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Azure D'or was definitely a "dryer" album and the lack of orchestral accompaniment on songs like the "Floyd at Lyon" really made the album pale in comparison to ASFAS. It was not the band's finest hour on many levels.

It was all round flat.  I think they were tired and needed a break. They got it soon thereafter but probably not the kind of break they appreciated. It's amazing how these bands used to churn out album after album and also toured like mad.  Nobody does that anymore.  I mean, the industry scenario is very different today but already by the noughties (pre-meltdown), the gap between albums had increased on average.  I have seen a couple of Ren's tour programs from the 70s.  Something like 23 dates in a single month.  Iron Maiden were still touring like that even in 2007/08 thereabouts. 

'Off topic':  Listening to Grandine Il Vinto off the Union Chapel concert DVD and Annie sings way better here than on the studio recording, which is positively weird (but has happened before).  The chorus is strong, not at all shaky and hesitating like it sounded on the recording (at least to me it did). 

I barely noticed the song "Grandine Il Vento" until I saw Renaissance live in maybe 2013 or 2014, when the performance blew me away.   It's a song made for the current Annie, and it really comes alive in the concert hall
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rogerthat View Drop Down
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Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

Azure D'or was definitely a "dryer" album and the lack of orchestral accompaniment on songs like the "Floyd at Lyon" really made the album pale in comparison to ASFAS. It was not the band's finest hour on many levels.

It was all round flat.  I think they were tired and needed a break. They got it soon thereafter but probably not the kind of break they appreciated. It's amazing how these bands used to churn out album after album and also toured like mad.  Nobody does that anymore.  I mean, the industry scenario is very different today but already by the noughties (pre-meltdown), the gap between albums had increased on average.  I have seen a couple of Ren's tour programs from the 70s.  Something like 23 dates in a single month.  Iron Maiden were still touring like that even in 2007/08 thereabouts. 

'Off topic':  Listening to Grandine Il Vinto off the Union Chapel concert DVD and Annie sings way better here than on the studio recording, which is positively weird (but has happened before).  The chorus is strong, not at all shaky and hesitating like it sounded on the recording (at least to me it did). 
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SteveG View Drop Down
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No, but I have heard it once while having a nightmare! My God, an absolutely dreadful song.
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^Oh, come off it. You probably sing Only Angels Have Wings in the shower.
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SteveG View Drop Down
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Azure D'or was definitely a "dryer" album and the lack of orchestral accompaniment on songs like the "Floyd at Lyon" really made the album pale in comparison to ASFAS. It was not the band's finest hour on many levels.
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