Annie Haslam "Annie Haslam" 1989***

Another CD I recently bought at the second hand store and which is often out of print. Annie Haslam was the voice of prog rockers Renaissance and this was her third solo album. By the time it came out, prog rock was a long forgotten and defamed genre and the sheer mention of it was enough to kill the commercial potential of any album. Which is probably why Haslam chose to switch to a new wave-ish sound for this synth-driven album. At 42 years old, her voice was still a magnificent instrument and the real dominant element in this record. The use of synthesizers instead of organic instruments has hurt the album's reputation with Renaissance fans and given it an outdated 80's sound. You shouldn't let it discourage you though, because the vocal performance on the album is amazing. Next to synth wizard Larry Fast, she is aided by such luminaries as the Moody Blues' Justin Hayward and King Crimson's Mel Collins. Opener "Moonlight Shadow" is the definitive performance of this Mike Oldfield song, putting even the very fine Maggie Reilly-sung original in the shade. Hayward's "The Angels Cry" is another superb number. "When a Heart Finds Another" is characterized by sweet vocals set on a backdrop of pseudo-African beats and simulated orchestra sounds. "Let It Be Me" is  a love song enriched by a beautiful Mel Collins sax solo and "She's The Light" is an atmospheric new age synth-dominated track. "Celestine" is a slow pop song and "Further From Fantasy" new wave with angelic vocals and a catchy chorus. "Wishing on a Star" is a Rose Royce R&B hit and curiously sounds like a Kate Bush-fronted ABBA. "Wildest Dreams" is another new wave number with some welcome electric guitar towards the end. "One More Arrow" sports another great vocal of the kind that Candice Night (a.k.a. Mrs. Blackmore) always tries so hard to emulate. Closer "One Love" is a pop song that sounds like an outtake from an Andrew Lloyd Webber opera. To summarize, this album should please friends of new age and artists like Kate Bush or Blue Nile. Rock fans will just have to look past the artificial instrumental backing and focus on the amazing vocal performance by Ms.Haslam.

**** for Moonlight Shadow

*** for  The Angels Cry, When a Heart Finds Another, Let It Be Me,She's The Light, Further From Fantasy
** for Celestine, Wishing on a Star, Wildest Dreams, One More Arrow, One Love