Renee was born out of The Hague-based rock 'n roll band Rene And His Alligators, founded by Rene Nodelijk in 1959. Throughout the 60s they were moderately successful both on stage and in the studio and served as an inspiration for many bands associated with the burgeoning beat scene in the coastal city. From 1967 onwards they performed under a few different names before going on a hiatus. In 1977 he made a comeback, this time joined by his wife Anja Nodelijk, nee Exterkate. To reflect this fresh feminine impulse the band name was changed to simply Renee and recorded four full-length albums and a host of singles before disbanding in 1982 to make way for Anja's solo career. Reaching For The Sky from 1980 is their second and has been likened to many different things: Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, or even a fantasy collaboration between Pat Benatar's guitarist, Heart's Ann Wilson, and Steely Dan. Sprinkle some reggae and funk in the mix and it is no surprise that some of the tunes on this album ended up in niche YouTube algorithms, a Japanese book about obscure records, and in DJ sets by big names like Prins Thomas, who even released an extended edit of 'Change Your Style' on a 12' single. This is obscure sophisti-pop at it's best. Reaching For The Sky is available as a 45th anniversary edition on translucent magenta colored vinyl. LISTEN: https://youtu. Be/iD9WGaUMt-M* 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL * DUTCH SOPHISTI-POP MEETS YACHT ROCK * INCLUDES THE UNDERGROUND HITS 'LAY ME DOWN' AND 'CHANGE YOUR STYLE', A FAVOURITE OF NORWEGIAN DJ PRINS THOMAS* FEATURED IN CHEE SHIMIZU'S BOOK OBSCURE SOUND, A DISCOGRAPHY OF SOME OF THE MOST RARE RECORDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD* 45th ANNIVERSARY EDITION ON LIMITED TRANSLUCENT MAGENTA COLORED VINYLTrack listing:Side 11. Dry Your Tears 2. Lay Me Down 3. Sadman 4. Just One Look 5. It's Absurd Side 21. Jimmy 2. Come Closer 3. Change Your Style 4. Reaching For The Sky 5. Stranded Lady
