Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation

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About RENAISSANCE

Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53804
Printed Date: December 02 2024 at 05:05
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Topic: About RENAISSANCE

Posted By: Jaja Macca
Subject: About RENAISSANCE
Date Posted: December 02 2008 at 21:03

Hi, friends.

Despite the resume on Prog Archives, I would like to know your opinion about this wonderful Prog Band.

When and your feelings when you heard them at the first time. Your favorite albuns and music. Favorites members. Worst albums etc.

I think that there will be a lot of good and inteligent answers here.

Thanks.

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Replies:

Posted By: Jaja Macca
Date Posted: December 03 2008 at 00:40

One of my older knowing bands!!!

I love their sound, despite of no Electric Guitars.

I think that no other band mix the Rock Music with classic stuff better than renaissance.

Great musicians, composers and what a voice of Mrs Haslam!!!

My favorite album is SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES and the worse is the 2 final releases CAMERA, CAMERA and TIME LINE. bOTH VERY VERY WEAK.

Renaissance is my number 5 on my Top Prog Ranking

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Posted By: limeyrob
Date Posted: December 03 2008 at 10:51

If memory serves me right I came across Renaissance in two ways. First, there used to be a TV series called The Paper Lads and Renaissance did the theme tune. Second, the hit single 'Northern Lights' came out both of which led me to the album 'Song for all Seasons'. Although I played the album every now and again it wasn't really until discovering PA that I began to add more Renaissance titles to my CD collection - Novella, Scheherezade, Turn of the Cards and Ashes are Burning so far.

I think their sound is really great and although I highly rate the aforementioned albums I guess I will always have a soft spot for Song for all Seasons. I seem to be buying quite a lot of female fronted albums these days but I think Annie Haslam may have been my first female lead in an album. The reason for the long break - mortgage, marriage, children. Need I say more?

Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 03 2008 at 11:23

Renaissance first caught my attention when I heard 'Northern Lights' on a compilation album, which I think was called 'Progressions' I loved the song, although didn't regard them as a prog band at that point. I knew nothing about them at all. I went into HMV - about 12 years ago - to find the album with Northern Lights on, and ended up with an album called 'The other Woman' This album didn't have Annie Haslam on vocals, or John Tout on keys. In fact, only Mike Dunford, was present from the older line up. The album, recorded in the mid 80's was bland imo, although the re-make of Northern Lights was pretty good.

It was after joining PA in 2004, I decided to research further, and to date I have purchased 'Prologue' 'Ashes..' 'Turn of the cards' 'Scherezade' 'Novella' and 'Song for all Seasons'

'Ashes are Burning' remains my fave Renaissance album, with 'Turn of the cards' close behind.

Annie Haslam is top of my list of female singers, and I regard John Tout as one of the best keyboard players - certainly pianists - in symphonic prog. Their classical influence is executed beautifully and tastefully, as with the Enid. One of my favorite Renaissance songs is 'At the Harbour' The piano intro is a perfect tribute to Debussey's 'Sunken Cathedral' (I think it's called that. Maybe somene can confirm..)

Great band, and always a pleasure to discuss them.

Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: December 04 2008 at 06:08

Cards is my favourite, like Ashes and Scheherazade too but not quite as much. Novella was hmmm...okie, dokie. I guess just about all fans of the Haslam lineup will say they like her singing a lot, so I can't add much to that. I must single out for mention the sheer resonance in her voice, it's stunning, or at least I find it so. Let me relate an amusing incident on that note. The other day I was playing a song off Novella, volume and equalizers were absolutely fine and yet Annie's voice was coming through feebly. I said, no way, where's the boom gone, I should feel the vibrations from her voice virtually hitting me. Sure enough, there was something wrong with the speakers and the moment I fixed it, normal service resumed. LOL

I think it says a lot about the high level of performance she maintained/maintains that I can rely on her voice to tell me if my equipment is wrong. LOL

Other than that, there's an essential staidness and conservatism about the band, didn't venture out of the box much once they hit their stride, rather like APP. It is a bit disappointing coming from a prog rock band but on the other hand, it is an assurance of some bare minimum quality because the best of Renaissance is essential listening for any prog fan. I like their essential style so very much but as I said, they didn't try too many different things within their style. One of the few prog bands who get a lot of good words said about them from time to time - three albums rated over 4 is damn good - despite their instrumentalists being rather average albeit competent and pleasant...which probably says more about Haslam's prowess than anything else.