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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 9070 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 11 2016 at 12:51
actually, I remember the Rolling Stone record guide in 1978 saying that the live album was notable for the relentless seriousness with which the band now takes itself.  So that's consistent with what you are saying.  I honestly don't remember reading any of that, having not bought the tour programmes if there were indeed any, and my only reading was reviews in a prog oriented french language magazine, in which I remember the opening lines for the Novella review as "Quelle belle disque"  (what a beautiful album).  So the mainstream probably resented the pretensions a lot more than the prog press.  You know, to young musically uneducated fans like me, this was modern classical music in that it blended classical and rock in a more serious way than ELP or ELO for instance.  Punk and new wave put an end to that seriousness once and for all, so even the bands that survived did so by producing accessible songs that didn't sound too highbrow, thinking Supertramp and Al Stewart for instance.  "Northern Lights" was one such song, but sadly didn't give the band any momentum
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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: January 11 2016 at 09:27
They basically had a way of making it sound like what they were doing was dreadfully serious business.  Annie had in fact referred to Novella as their attempt to make new classical music in an interview, ha ha ha.  That's one heck of a stretch.  A little bit of lightness, which they had in the beginning, would have gone a  long way.  And then when they rediscovered it with SFAS they tilted so far to the other extreme that the old loyal fans were horrified. I cannot really fathom what made them take that approach because their live act does seem to have been livelier than the promise.  Idk, maybe that was the general way prog musicians talked at the time?  Fripp is perpetually hyper-intellectual for another. I am sure it is all well meaning but sometimes it gets in the way of getting people to like the music.
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Points: 9070 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 10 2016 at 11:44
They were never that big in Montreal in the 1970s, and, when they did get airplay, I don't remember the focus being on Annie's voice.  The only songs I heard with any regularity were Mother Russia and, when Novella came out, "Midas Man".  And I remember the announcer gushing over the depth of sound on "Midas Man", not even the voice.  But I don't doubt the promotional material's emphasis on her voice.  And you are right, 5 octaves is just 5 octaves, it's her technique and control that are so awe-inspiring.  At the same time, there is just enough warmth to walk that fine line between operatic frigidity and sappy 1970s folk pop.  Maybe that was why they never achieved mass appeal.
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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: January 09 2016 at 06:46
Originally posted by kennethlevine kennethlevine wrote:

I think the band as a whole is underappreciated, including Tout but also Dunford and especially Jon Camp's bass, which often gave them the only rock element in their sound, especially when they used no electric guitar.  But most of all, I think Annie is under appreciated.  She should be right up there with the best female singers ever in any genre, but instead most people, including many who were around during the band's peak period, don't even know who she is. 

Reproducing this comment from the John Tout thread because I don't want to derail it, lol.  Anyway, I think over emphasising Annie's five octave range in promotional material was a mistake.  I mean, it may have been nice initially to get word out about the band but to do it even today is really not necessary.  Because it gives the impression to listeners that she's all about range which isn't really the case.  If I take Captive Heart for instance, she ascends quite dramatically yet smoothly and elegantly on "You've stored throughout the years".  It is pretty hard to achieve that effect and that's technique, not range.  Annie was and is very much on the money when it comes to the finer aspects of singing yet it's always the range that becomes the talking point.  Plus her style is kind of restrained and minimalist so she doesn't use range in a way that would satisfy the desires of ermmm range masturbators. Tongue  They could have just let the voice speak for itself because frankly in going through the tour brochures of various years in the 70s, I have found them to be written in a rather self-congratulatory tone.  Of course, a brochure is going to say the band is awesome but there are ways to say it without sounding smug.
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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: January 09 2016 at 04:12
Originally posted by Rivertree Rivertree wrote:

I've seen them on the stage in the 70's, alongside with CAMEL ...simply amazing Clap
Annie Haslam performing Mother Russia - fantastic!




Never knew about a double bill with Camel.  Have heard they performed once with Gentle Giant, which is a pretty weird combination.
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Meltdowner View Drop Down
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Points: 10273 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meltdowner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2016 at 15:01
^ Wow! I bet it was Big smile I regret I didn't see Camel two years ago, I hope they'll come back again.
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Rivertree View Drop Down
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Points: 17649 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rivertree Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2016 at 14:46
I've seen them on the stage in the 70's, alongside with CAMEL ...simply amazing Clap
Annie Haslam performing Mother Russia - fantastic!


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Points: 10273 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meltdowner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2016 at 09:40
^ It sounds like digital piano, it doesn't have that grand piano sound of the classic albums.
These tracks are nice too.
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Points: 9070 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2016 at 09:35
it sounds like piano to me?
the album is good, with a couple of great tracks.
There's also one with Ian Anderson on flute, and a vocal duet with David Keyes the bassist, that is kind of a new style for them, almost like a tango
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Points: 10273 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meltdowner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 08 2016 at 09:21
I heard this one yesterday Smile

Lovely duet. Too bad they didn't use real piano on this album Ermm
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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 9070 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2016 at 23:37
just noticed this, yes I'm game!
The preview of the live DVD sold me on buying it and helping them with their indie go go campaign.  I only wish it was the same set they are playing in the US, which included Song for all Seasons, I guess instead of Running Hard.  But at least they did Ashes are Burning.

To me the best part of the preview is Annie's smile at the end of "Ashes".  Pure joy for her and me!
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Points: 9869 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote rogerthat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2015 at 10:10
There have been appreciation threads for Renaissance before, with most eventually dying a 'natural death'.  But how about one place to post all things related to Renaissance - could be news of upcoming releases, touring dates, or general chat/discussion about the band.  Consolidating it in other thread will be to the benefit of all interested members.  

So, in that spirit, new DVD expected, taken from their concert at The Union Chapel, London earlier this year.  

http://renaissancetouring.com/2015/11/renaissance-live-at-union-chapel-dvd/
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