GRANDINE IL VENTO [AKA: SYMPHONY OF LIGHT]

Hi all From Argentina where Renaissance had only one vinyl pressed locally ("Novella") with no commercial sucess and where i had my dream-come-true experience in attending a Renaissance show in its last incarnation in 2017, needless to say it was the first time this band played live here in front of some 150 people. Despite of all this I have been a huge Renaissance fan and loyal listener and collector since age 15 (that is, 41 years ago...) While shocked and deeply pleased to experience "Annie and his band" first row-centre somehow I felt that a bit of the glory of old times has been lost. Despiite the undeniable beauty of their music it sounded tired and a bit slower. No doubt there`s something unique in master Tout ok Keyboards, Camp`s bass, even Sullivan`s drumming all absent today. There`s Annie, a 70 Yr old lady who sings as if still 25, and manages to fill the air with her fantastic voice bringing the old songs some of it`s past spirit.

I felt so pleased while getting this last CD Grandine Il Vento...maybe too much expectations. My feel is that you should take it as a new Annie solo album whith a touch of more progressive approach. As I read on so many other reviews, it`s correctly defined as "bland", it`s played as if musicians are low blood pressured, in fact for me it should be qualified as 2 - 1/2 stars, while it`s not bad at all, it lacks almost everything we love from the Renaissance Brand. In terms of sound and Dynamics it`s absolutely the opposite you can hear on "Running Hard" to name just one old tune. On GIV you can find some interesting music and twists on both first and last tracks. The Music in between is what I would call something in between filler and half baked songs...Above all, is again Annie `s voice in perfect shape as usual and very present all along the disc (should I Say Too much Present..., at times seems she`s too loud over the mix)

Get Grandine Il Vento, but maybe it will be archived after 1 or two complete hearings.