| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Jekyll and Hyde | Renaissance | 4:41 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
The Winter Tree | Renaissance | 3:05 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Only Angels Have Wings | Renaissance | 3:43 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
Golden Key | Renaissance | 5:16 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
Forever Changing | Renaissance | 4:49 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
Secret Mission | Renaissance | 5:02 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
Kalynda (A Magical Isle) | Renaissance | 3:43 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
The Discovery | Renaissance | 4:27 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Friends | Renaissance | 3:32 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
The Flood At Lyons | Renaissance | 4:58 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
| Total: 10 Songs |
Album Review
This is one of the better late-era Renaissance albums from the original continuity of the "mark II" lineup of the group (which is the one everyone knows). It's also something of a step up from the two preceding albums, with lush, melodic passages, beautiful lyrics, and some splendid playing by all concerned. Moreover, it rocks pretty well too, songs like "Secret Mission" being one of the better showcases for the group's rhythm section, as well as offering Annie Haslam in a glittering, dramatic showcase for her vocals. Azure d'Or would probably compare very favorably with the group's early albums, but for two major changes in their sound — the emphasis on the use of the synthesizer, which is a departure from the piano that was prominent in their earlier work, and the extended instrumental passages, which aren't all that interesting and change the focus of the band's music somewhat. Still, the overall sound is compelling, and when Haslam gets a piece of music into which she can sink her teeth, such as "The Flood at Lyons," the results are breathtaking.
Customer Reviews
Enjoy on it's own merits
"Azure D'Or" is the only Renaissance record I owned and it sat very comfortably in my collection with "...and Then There Were Three" by Genesis, "Songs from the Wood" by Jethro Tull and "Little Queen" by Heart (among others). There are some absolutely beautiful moments on this album. "The Winter Tree" is especially striking and the male vocal on "Only Angels Have Wings" brings a nice change to the overall feel. I hope long time Renaissance fans will give this extremely enjoyable record a second (or third) listen.
The times were changing
This an example of a band who stayed around way too long. Their previous effort, A Song For All Seasons should have been their last. By 1979 any form of prog was DEAD. Renaissance had some great albums in the mid 70's, but they never sold in the States outside of the Northeast, and that still wasn't much. The label kept pushing them to be more accessible and commercial and this is what we got, 3 and half minute "poppy" versions of the real thing sans the strings. Some bands survived this period like Genesis, but look at how cheesy they got in the late 70's early 80's. Genesis became a totally different band. The bigger issue was that the times had changed and this unique, innovative band from 1971 had become totally irrelevant by 1979. If you didn't live through the times with this band and you stumble upon this album now, you may actually like it. The music isn't terrible and it's not 1979! At the time this was not the sound I came to expect from this band, nor was I looking for it.
If only for the absence of strings...
This would have been a five. An improvement over A SONG FOR ALL SEASONS. But the arrangements do suffer somewhat from the lack of traditional orchestration. That said, nice things were done with the syths. "Only Angels Have Wings is a fine enough melody, though I would have MUCH preferred Annie here..."Friends" may be a little too fey, as well..."The Discovery" is a gem, a track that would have blended orchestra with the syths well. "Winter Tree"...a magical sort of song full of optimism, something the cynical market could never allow to be written today. Whatever the album's flaws, a gem nonetheless. Considering this was released in the heyday of punk, truly an album of courage.
Top Albums and Songs By Renaissance
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mother Russia | Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1 | 9:20 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Carpet of the Sun | Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1 | 3:32 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Mother Russia | Turn of the Cards | 9:20 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
Running Hard | Turn of the Cards | 9:39 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
Things I Don't Understand | Turn of the Cards | 9:32 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
Black Flame | Turn of the Cards | 6:26 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
I Think of You | Turn of the Cards | 3:06 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
Cold Is Being | Turn of the Cards | 3:04 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Ocean Gypsy | Tales of 1001 Nights, Vol. 1 | 7:08 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
Northern Lights | A Song for All Seasons | 4:05 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $9.90
- Genres: Rock, Music, Prog-Rock/Art Rock
- Released: 1979
- ℗ 2006 Warner Bros. Records, Manufactured & Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company
