Dawn of Ananda (Reis) [Import, Original recording remastered]

Annie Haslam | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Voiceprint UK
• ASIN: B0007ZP1CK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #478,026 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Precious One

2. Ananda

3. Twig

4. Summon the Angels

5. 'Michael' Prince of Angels

6. Lily Lullaby

7. This Is Destiny

8. A Thousand Angels

9. Running River Runs

10. Angel Blue

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Annie Haslam began her singing career in earnest whilst at university when she got up and performed a version of Those Were The Days at a local pub. Annie later joined a cabaret band called The Gentle People who had a residency in a venue called the Showboat in London's West End. She also trained under the opera singer Sybil Knight. It was however in late 1970 that Annie joined the band she is probably still identified with. Annie became the singer with Renaissance in 1971 after answering an advertisement placed in the music paper Melody Maker in late 1970. Her five octave soprano voice was to be an outstanding feature of this band until the band split in the eighties. While she was a member of Renaissance Annie recorded a number of well-received albums including Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, Novella and Song For All Seasons. The latter album making the top forty of the British albums chart and also spawning a top ten hit single with Northern Lights.

Renaissance continued under the leadership of Annie and Michael Dunford until 1987.Following the end of Renaissance Annie and fellow Renaissance member Michael Dunford formed the short-lived Nevada although Renaissance did briefly reconvene in the late nineties for an album and touring following which Annie returned to her solo career.

Annie's solo career began in 1978 while still with Renaissance when she released Annie In Wonderland and although the album was critically well received Annie regarded Renaissance as her main concern at the time.

Product Description

This album was originally released in 1999 and is one of Annie's most spiritual works. It contains some of her finest work and song writing collaborations. This album includes a contribution from her former 'Renaissance' colleague Michael Dunford, and also Larry Fast, Tony Visconti, Mickey Simmons, Mick Rossi and Rave Tesar who is a member of Annie's band. Rave shares the production credits with Tony Visconti and Larry Fast.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sigh......., December 28, 2001

By 

tomh922 "tomh922" (MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dawn of Ananda (Audio CD)

If you love the sound of Annie Haslam's voice buy this CD, she's never sounded better. If you're looking for a one person reincarnation of Renaissance you will be sadly disappointed. The main problem is that the material, all but one written by Annie, is very similar. She's mining the currently popular angelic influence vein. While the songs are good, one even could be a pop hit on a soft mix type station, they lack the diversity and intensity that was much of the appeal of Renaissance. Perhaps for her next offering she could find the Becky Thather who co-wrote several of Renaissance's songs. As a disclaimer I will say that yes I'm a dyed in the wool Renaissance fan, but I also own and listen to everything of Ms Haslam's that's available. I don't mean to say I don't like this, but rather I wish it was a better example of what she is capable of. Sigh......

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Annie's best solo album -- she sounds better than ever., November 16, 2000

By 

Carl McColman (Clarkston, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dawn of Ananda (Audio CD)

One of the loveliest albums of 2000, "The Dawn of Ananda" is a sublime and beautiful showcase for the vocals of Annie Haslam, lead singer of the 70s classical rock group Renaissance. Each of the songs has do with angels, from the title track (about the "Angel of Bliss") to the serene benediction of the opening song, "Precious One" (about a dead child who sends a message of love from the other side) and the optimistic "Summon the Angels" (about our ability to receive heavenly guidance at any time). In case this sounds like too much spirituality for you, the heavenly lyrics are grounded in truly beautiful musical arrangements. And then there's the voice -- Annie, the nightingale of progressive rock, still sounds as lovely today as she did in the early 70s. If you're a Renaissance fan, this is not to be missed -- it's as good as "Novella" or "Turn of the Cards" in this reviewer's opinion. And even if you've never heard of Renaissance or Annie Haslam, but enjoy spiritually uplifting music with beautiful arrangements and vocals, this is one well worth trying out.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully sung New Age sentiments, February 11, 2004

By 

R. Josef (New Haven, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dawn of Ananda (Audio CD)

Annie Haslam's sixth solo album goes full tilt into a theme that she touched upon on her previous three. It's a concept album about angels. She wrote the lyrics to all but one of the songs. Interestingly, she called on former collaborators for all of the music. The opener , "Precious One", was written by her Renaissance bandmate, Michael Dunford; "A Thousand Angels" was contributed by then-Renaissance keyboardist Mickey Simmonds; Larry Fast, who produced the "Annie Haslam" album, worked on the last two songs; Tony Visconti, who did her last studio album, "Blessing in Disguise" did two more; David Biglin had previously performed his "Summon the Angels" with Annie on her first live album, "Under Brazilian Skies"; and the rest of the songs were co-written by Rave Tesar, who had worked extensively with Annie in the past and would again on her next two albums.

With all these songwriters, one would expect a lot of
diversity in the album. However, Tesar was involved with most of the arrangements, and he pretty much sticks to gentle keyboard sounds. This makes sense when one considers the lyrics, which pretty much stick to the loving presence of angels in our lives, etc. This can all be a bit "samey" or cloying to those who might not be open to Annie's messages. Certainly, those who expect to find the classical/rock fusion of Renaissance better look elsewhere.

Still, there are some gorgeous melodies here, and Annie sings them beautifully. Her vocal grace has not diminished with age.
In particular, she gives "A Thousand Angels" (about the death of a baby)a very moving performance. And not everything is taken at a slow tempo. Tesar gives the title song, "Ananda" an Indian feel, while Visconti adds Far Eastern sounds to "Lily Lullaby". "Summon the Angels" and "Running River Runs" have a more upbeat, anthemic sound (although Fast, as he did with the "Annie Haslam" album, gets a bit bombastic).

Still ,the album is more suited for a relaxing, gentle mood -- again, fitting with the theme. Most listeners would enjoy the CD more for the melodies and Annie's great voice than the lyrics, I'd say. The CD is getting harder to find, but you can still get it from Annie's own website. But if you want a better idea of her capabilities, try "Blessing in Disguise" or her early classic Renaissance albums.