The Renaissance Zone

yes they played in Feb 1977, and I'm pretty sure at least once before that, but I only saw the Feb 77 show.  That was the one where we had to wait in frigid (like -20C) temperatures for an eternity to get into the hall.  The band claimed there was a truck blocking their way into the hall, then proceeded to play for barely an hour, including virtually everything from Novella!.  I didn't know them well then, and I don't think the Novella material was easy for new fans.  I also didn't like the vocalise at that time, too young perhaps!  So I gave the band not another thought until I heard "Opening Out" on the radio about a year later, and became smitten for good.  Yes I saw them on the Camera Camera tour in Ottawa, which was a great show  They came back the next year to promote Time Line but I didn't go, not sure why, but might have had to do with the budget of a student!

I think it was a bold move all around that, for me, really worked, especially when comparing it to what the prog giants were doing in 1978.  Did it sow the seeds of their demise ultimately?  Perhaps.  I feel the production largely worked on ASFAS but flopped on Azure D'Or, but perhaps that was more because the compositions and arrangements on AD were IMO awful. 

It was all round flat.  I think they were tired and needed a break. They got it soon thereafter but probably not the kind of break they appreciated. It's amazing how these bands used to churn out album after album and also toured like mad.  Nobody does that anymore.  I mean, the industry scenario is very different today but already by the noughties (pre-meltdown), the gap between albums had increased on average.  I have seen a couple of Ren's tour programs from the 70s.  Something like 23 dates in a single month.  Iron Maiden were still touring like that even in 2007/08 thereabouts. 

'Off topic':  Listening to Grandine Il Vinto off the Union Chapel concert DVD and Annie sings way better here than on the studio recording, which is positively weird (but has happened before).  The chorus is strong, not at all shaky and hesitating like it sounded on the recording (at least to me it did). 

I got through Symphony of Light and Mystic as well and on these tracks too her singing is stellar.  It's a cliche anyway, but like on Mystic she doesn't slide her voice into that last big high note (a whopping D6 IIRC) and takes it flush with astounding power. You can see from the audience reaction that they too really loved it and kept clapping for a long time. 

  Hope you will enjoy it.