KINGS AND QUEENS

Finally some footage (all TV shows) from the first Renaissance era, even f this release only holds two tracks from the ex-Yardbirds line-up, the rest of the tracks being from the intermediary line-p that finished the group's second album Illusion.

The first two tracks were recorded in early 71 for a German TV show with the original line-up and are two of the stand out from the debut album. Island is unfortunately improperly mixed through the desk: Relf's guitar is way too loud and his voice almost inaudible, sister Jane is well heard as is Cennamo's bass and McCarty's drums, but Hawken's piano is imbedded in the music as well at first, but once he breaks for the solo, he remains strong in the mix. K&Q is definitely superiorly recorded and you can feel that this was the band's fetish song in concert. Hawken's piano starts out underlined by the two guitarists, but once the track is under way, the TV producers go out and play a bit with delays and single views over a still-photo trickery, one of those effects of the times that are quite dated by now, but still enjoyable. The track goes on for a while, but ends up in the dark and then fades out inappropriately. I won't blame Voiceprint for once. As fine as that German TV footage is, these two tracks are a little too few to quench your thirst, but this is only one of two broadcasts.

As the band was disintegrating during the second album: McCarty refusing to tour but staying in the band, Keith wanting to write, Cennamo leaving for Steamhammer via Colosseum (both the latter would meet up again in Armageddon, Keith's fateful end), Hawken coming and going, then finally splitting for Spooky Tooth and later Strawbs etc. This lead McCarthy to build up a "second" group that finished the second album Illusion and tour. But before the album's release, the group went for a Belgian TV special in October 70.

Sooooo, the next five tracks on this DVD are from that short-lived line-up and come from that fantastic Belgian TV serie/show that has given us Genesis, ELP, Atomic Rooster, Pentangle, etc... and now Renaissance, even if not in its prime line-up. Well actually two of the members at that TV show are known to Renaissance fans, as keyboards-man John Tout and Guitarist and future main writer Michael Dunford are both there (this might be the only time Dunford played live with them during the 70's), with Terry Grove on male vocals, bassist Korner (not Alexis) and drummer Slade (not the MMEB guy) and American female singer Binky Cullom are rounding up that ephemeral line-up.

But the material shot live in the studio in , but enhanced by simple playing in the fields footage (this hasn't aged too well) is well worth the viewing as well. Tacky baby wails, coloured Plexiglas, fake roses and baby dolls are making up the TV décor, as the new group embarks on an abridged and rockier K&Q version (whether under-rehearsed or incapable of completing it), then Binky butchers Jane's parts. We get to hear this complete unknown new singer speaking out as "We, Renaissance, etc.... " acting like a veteran, before massacring another Relf-era track Golden Thread. This line-up is a little more at ease with material from the second album Illusion, as shown with a shorter Mr Pine (featuring these open field footage) and Face Of Yesterday (both from the Relf line-up), but although excellent by moments, it's easy to see why this line-up wouldn't survive as both singers are often out-of-scale and the rhythm section perfectible. The real "gift" is the unavailable elsewhere folk cover of Widdycombe Fair played energetically, almost a hard-rocking version almost a jam), where this line-up finally appears at ease, and the previous visual effects are completed by classical painting shots and awareness phrases. You've never seen or heard Renaissance like this.

While I wouldn't call this DVD essential, it does offer a rare ex-Yardbirds line-up peek and has the merit to document (maybe a bit too much, given the short life and studio legacy) that obscure transitional era. If anything this transitional state of the band is hinting at how the commerce was still present (even at that time), as McCarty held on to the group's rein and concept (after the original line-up's disbanding) without actually playing in it, just content to play the songwriting manager of an almost bogus group hastily assembled to meet the TV public.