| Track by Track Review
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Disc: 1
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Introduction
This is a fairly long spoken introduction. |
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Carpet of the Sun
They come in with this classic song. It's a great live performance. As one expects from Renaissance, they put in a flawless live rendition of the track. It is a magical song, and they definitely do it justice here. |
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Mother Russia
This is the first of several epics presented here. The track comes in on with a various mellower themes building outward as an extended introduction. The keyboards really shine on this section. There is a lot of classical music along with some world sounds in the mix. Then a driving bass line that again feels quite classical in nature takes over to move us into the next section, the moving, symphonic prog build up. That gives way to a drop to a balladic section built around acoustic guitar for the entrance of the vocals. They work it out gradually from there. Again, this is a great live performance of a piece we know so well. This track is epic, not just in length, but also in scope, working through various intriguing twists and turns. It always manages to thrill, but do it with pure class. |
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Can You Hear Me?
At nearly 13-and-a-half minutes of music, this is the longest epic here. It has so much style and charm. There are more dramatic movements and others that lean toward the more melodic expression of aesthetic beauty. It's a thrilling ride, and a great live performance. The balance between mellower and more powerful sections on this really works well in this recording. |
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Ocean Gypsy
This is less adventurous, but no less beautiful. It has so much majesty and drama. It's actually one of my favorites here. Given the competition that says a lot. I've written about this song in its studio incarnation before. This is a faithful live rendition that has all the magic of the studio take. |
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Running Hard
Another epic piece, this starts with a piano solo that is quite classical in nature. This works out to a powerhouse progressive rock mode after an extended introduction. Again, I've written a lot in the past about the studio version of this track. As always, Renaissance deliver an amazingly potent live performance of the song. I really love the non-lyrical vocal section on this, and the soaring jam that ensues around the half-way mark. This is dramatic, dynamic and powerful. At the end of this track, there is a spoken section introducing the band. |
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Touching Once (Is So Hard to Keep)
At over ten-minutes long, this is another epic. I love the first section after the brief introduction with its inventive piano and vocal approach. The track works outward from there getting very dramatic and powerful. The vocal arrangement on this song is actually among the most intriguing and unusual. Again, the balance between mellower and more powered up modes is great. There is so much drama in the dropped back section around the halfway mark, too. The keyboards do seem to get a little too high in the mix during on section, or the problem is that I don't like the voicing of them during that part. Still, it's a short section, so not a big issue. |
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Prologue
This driving Renaissance classic gets a great live telling here. This track works through some great twists and turns, and they deliver them with precision and style. The playful jam after the halfway mark is fun. While this does have vocals, they are of the non-lyrical variety, making this nearly an instrumental. |
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CD Two:
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BBC Radio 1 In Concert
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Can You Hear Me
In some ways this song, and performance, is more direct and rocking than anything on the first CD. This is still every bit as progressive rock oriented and dynamic, though. At nearly 14-and-a-half minutes of music, it's also the longest track on either of the two discs. This live performance is faithful, and they pull it off with finesse and style. |
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Carpet of the Sun
Another rendition of this Renaissance classic, this isn't a big change from the other one. Renaissance is one of those bands that tends to be pretty much perfect whenever they perform live, so their live performances are often very similar. |
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Day of the Dreamer
The energy and drive of this track is great. This is another epic. It has some great hooks and amazing instrumental work built into it. It has a good balance between more rocking and mellower sections. The bass guitar really gets to shine on this song. Again, it's a faithful rendition of a classic Renaissance song. |
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Back Home Once Again
A shorter number, this has a playful energy to it, but plenty of Renaissance magic, as well. |
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Can You Understand
This is a short instrumental piece that has all the prog majesty and class you expect from Renaissance. |
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The Vultures Fly High
Another short song, I really love the chorus hooks on this track. It's Renaissance, so you know it's all class. |
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A Song for All Seasons
Another epic piece, and a classic at that, they put in a great live performance of this song. It's faithful, and I've written about the studio version of this song in the past. So, let's just say they deliver well on the promise made by that studio rendition. |
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Prologue
Classical piano starts things here, and they take it out into another live performance of this extended piece of music. It's a great to end the CD in style. |
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