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Renaissance - Song of Scheherazade CD (album) cover

SONG OF SCHEHERAZADE

Renaissance

 

Symphonic Prog

2.90 | 23 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

moodyxadi
3 stars THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL ITEM FOR RENAISSANCE DIE-HARD FANS.

This said I consider this dvd with mixed feelings. It's lovely to see Tout and Camp shining in the greatest period of this band (the 76 section) and still rocking hard (pun intended) in their farewell album Azure D'Or tour. On the other hand the audio quality is not that great. I have no great problems with the B/W video but only with its mediocre quality. In the second concert the cameras seemed to be in the worst places in the theatre.

I don't know why the BBC 77 live gig (which I own as a VOIO) was not released along with this footage. Its colorful and the set list is different what would agregate valour to the final product. CAMEL's footage releases are far better, just for comparing Renaissance with another prog band from those golden years with limited mass appeal but with a strong following.

...But I like Renaissance most which explains why I have spent 30 dollars with this release, I suppose. It's specially thrilling to see Camp as the great star he was on the stage. His playing is superb and his vocals brilliant when mixed with Haslam's. It's a shame that he was made solely responsible for the direction the band took in the 80's and consequentely forgotten in the reunions. Tuscany was a spent force without him and the live album disappointing. He was one of the greatest bass players of rock classic era, period.

The other high point for me is John Tout's performance. He is maybe the most overlooked member of the band even when the keys are the leading instrument on Renaissance's sound. He had an extremely good taste and I never accepted the fact that after his early 80's breakdown he dig into obscurity. I don't know where you are Mr. Tout but know that you have a big fan here in this forgotten place of the world!

The rest of the team is good as always. It's interesting to see the maestro Dunford sitting quietly in the corner of the stage playing his acoustic guitar as if alone in a dark room. It's not so good to see him in a more "energetic" performance in the 79 show, though.

This DVD made me feel so happy - even with their technical defficiencies - that I imediately ordered the new Dunford/Haslam concert recording just for the sake of nostalgia. But beware - this is just for the initiated. The casual fan and the videophile nerds out there will hate it. That's the reason of my 3 stars rating even if my heart is screaming 5. Those were really the days...

moodyxadi | 3/5 |

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