Album review: RENAISSANCE – A Symphonic Journey (CD/DVD)

Annie Haslam chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio shortly before Renaissance’s UK dates in April 2015.  This hour special includes tracks from the band’s albums.

RENAISSANCE - A Symphonic Journey (CD/DVD)

Symphonic Rock Recordings [Release date: 14.09.18]

Bands to have hurdled a half century’s performing tend to fall into two camps.  Sloggers and evolvers, the former battle on pretty much as they started, albeit with increasingly fluid line-ups, usually driven by a formidable founding member.

Curved Air springs to mind, while this correspondingly British progressive act occupies the latter definition, having broadened its appeal with post-1975 hit single, ‘Northern Lights’, prompting the charting of a new course toward more a mainstream sound that was to alienate fans of the trickier propositions dished up in the band’s early ’70s catalogue.

The evolutionary aspect of the now US-based six-piece resides in its support by The Renaissance Chamber Orchestra on this handsomely-mounted 2CD/1DVD package celebrating a night live at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside PA, USA last year.

The group’s music is long-steeped in the symphonic, and tonight, vocalist Annie Haslam is embarking on the titular journey through its repertoire.

She still fields the stunning five-octave range she brought to the group when she joined in 1971, taping the following year what is perceived as the ‘classic’ line-up’ kick starter album, ‘Prologue’.  Its title track would be a challenge for most but Annie tackles its glass-breaking a capella runs with reassuring aplomb as an opener for tonight’s concert.

While the repertoire timelines the band’s journey to the present day, it derives much from the ’70s: wisely it seems, as the whoops and hollers from a packed house get notably louder for the likes of ‘At The Harbour’, ‘Island’ (Annie’s auditioning song back in the day), ‘Song For All Seasons’, and a formidably moving ‘Mother Russia’.

The quality stamp is not banged down on Haslam’s focal-point performance alone; it emblazons those of her band and orchestra, sound-desk and studio mixing, camerawork and editing. And it likewise tributes the authorship of musicians John Tout and Michael Dunford and lyricist Betty Thatcher, all of whom played major roles in forging this music, and are now deceased.

The only member of the 1971 line-up still with Renaissance, Annie Haslam is momentarily overcome at one point. Reflecting on the orchestra’s evocative cradling of their songs, there’s a hesitation, a tick at the back of the throat, remembering them.

And then she is back on song.  ****

Review by Peter Muir

Gig review (April 2015)


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply