Comments on: OMS

By: Steve Jones

Steve Jones — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 11:52:51 +0000

Talking of Renaissance again, I’ve just noticed Annie Haslam does the vocals on “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” from Steve Howe’s “Portraits of Bob Dylan” album.

Most excellent it is too, although what you Cookie Monster buffs will make of it is anyone’s guess!

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:47:44 +0000

Electric Castle! “Welcome to the cranial vistas of psychogenesis” indeed. The fact that it’s got Fish on it is a point in it’s favour.

Porcupine Tree’s “Deadwing” is indeed a great album; Echolyn are one of those bands I keep meaning to check out, and have never got round tuit.

Sounds like you’re having the same problem with King Crimson as I am with Renaissance.

By: John Gilliland

John Gilliland — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 19:21:09 +0000

I have several After Crying releases. I agree with your comments, but I also really like their use of piano.

With Ayreon I prefer the cheesy Into The Electric Castle to The Human Equation.

I’ve got the King Crimson, too. I spin it occasionally hoping it’ll click. No luck so far.

In my opinion the best releases in this genre this year come from Porcupine Tree and Echolyn.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:05:58 +0000

Somehow, I didn’t think it was

By: Steve Jones

Steve Jones — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 21:51:15 +0000

No, not the Sisters of Mercy song.

Thinking about it, Renaissance are more classical tinged than prog, more piano than Moog Simplifier. I’m playing the live album at this very moment.

BTW, Renaissance’s Annie Haslam appears on that Yes covers album, Tales From Yesterday.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 13:13:38 +0000

Thanks, Steve. I’ll look out of the live album. Presumably “Mother Russia” isn’t the same song that The Sisters of Mercy played.

Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons: I’d forgotten them. Live at the Cat and Mangle is a classic!

By: Steve Jones

Steve Jones — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 10:50:22 +0000

I’ve no idea why anyone would suggest a similarity between Renaissance and Mostly Autumn. You’ve got yer female vocals and it’s not indie, but there the similarity ends.

I’m a great fan of Renaissance and have seen them many times, but I can’t think of a more representative album to suggest – it’s down to your tastes and Renaissance might not be for you. Personally I’ve always like the ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’ set as it captures what I’d see onstage in their heyday – ‘Mother Russia’ being perhaps their ‘Smoke on the Water’

On the other hand a couple of the later 70s albums (Song For All Seasons and Azure D’Or) have a Genesis sound as far as production values go (not music!) as David Henshell produced. It’s got that delicate, soft effect typified by And Then There Were Three and Duke.

Really, Renaissance aren’t a progtastic band in the Captain Hobbit and the Mellotrons sense, only in a thinking person’s music sense.

At least it’s not Coldplay