Lost gems for hardcore fans
R. Josef | New Haven, CT United States | 10/19/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This CD consists of rare and unreleased songs from Renaissance. One, "Island of Avalon", is a B-side from the 1979 "Azure d'Or" sessions. "Northern Lights" and "No Beginning/No End" are solo demos from Annie Haslam dating from 1988. The rest come from sessions around the period of the "Time-Line" album. So, not surprisingly, the sound continues the 80's synth-pop sounds the band had begun producing during the Nevada sessions and continued through "Camera Camera" and "Time-Line". So, a lot of fans of the band's original classical/progressive sound will be put off by the dance rhythms of tracks such as "The Body Machine" and "You". The strongest tracks are the lovely ballads "Only When I Laugh", "Africa", "Dreamaker" and a cool version of Paul Simon's "America". Still, only fans really familiar with the band's late period should pick this up."
Latter Days
Mark Champion | San Antonio, TX United States | 03/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After the heady days of SCHEHEREZADE and NOVELLA, things went commercially downhill fairly quickly for Renaissance. It really wasn't their fault. The musical landscape was changing in the late 70s and their style of light folk/prog fell increasingly into disfavor with the public and the critics alike. It's a shame, too, because there are few things more pathetic than a great band attempting to placate a loyal following while simultaneously pandering to a potentially new audience in desperation (ELP's LOVE BEACH, anyone?). The Kate Bush/Toyah-influenced CAMERA CAMERA (whose laughably "contemporary" cover was louder than most of the music in the grooves) notwithstanding, the band still had the knack for releasing punchy and beguilingly melodic prog/pop (see that album's "Faeries," for example).
SONGS FROM RENAISSANCE DAYS (no, it isn't a collection of medieval recorder pieces) compiles tracks written and recorded by Annie Haslam, Jon Camp and Michael Dunford and guests at various times from 1979 into the early 80's. Long gone is the orchestration so identified with Renaissance in the 70s (some tracks are clearly demos); instead, tasteful synthetic flourishes (five different keyboard players!) accompany the still largely acoustic textures the band was always known for. As for the songs, they're pretty much hit-or-miss. The album begins promisingly enough with the lovely "Africa," which has one of the band's most gorgeous melodies ever - - the kind only Renaissance could conjure. Things begin getting iffy around track four, though, and the album kind of slumps in the middle. "No Beginning No End," is slight and forgettable. "The Body Machine" sounds exactly like you think it does. And "Only When I Laugh" is so overwrought I had to check to make sure Laura Brannigan hadn't popped in for a guest vocal spot. But their take on Paul Simon's "America" is a welcome respite late in the proceedings, and the lengthy closer "You" has some very nice passages indeed.
Okay, so it isn't SCHEHEREZADE or TURN OF THE CARDS. That's all right. Any time these people want to get together and record, I'll be willing to listen. Even if they decide to re-re-record "Northern Lights."
"
Relaxing, high-quality music
Kurt A. Johnson | North-Central Illinois, USA | 07/08/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The group Renaissance was formed in 1969, and featured symphonic sound, and excellence in both lyrics and vocal performances. In 1987, the group broke up. In 1997, this album was released, including songs taped from 1979 to 1988, to cover the final evolution in the group. The music is hauntingly beautiful, showing strong influences from Disco music. As a long-time fan of the group ABBA, I right away heard similarities between this album and the classic ABBA sound. However, Renaissance's sound is less brash than ABBA's, being much more symphonic, and having a relaxing, lyrical quality. Therefore, if you want relaxing, high-quality music, then I highly recommend this album to you."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1