Some Thoughts on the Colour Haze Live Record
Quietly issued while everyone’s back was turned and intended as a stopgap to sate those eagerly awaiting the material recorded at Duna Jam in Sardinia, the new live record from Deutsche heavy psych magnates Colour Haze — appropriately titled Burg Herzberg Festival 18.Juli 2008 — captures over two hours’ worth of the trio’s set from the traditional hippie fest. Since their studio albums basically are intended to recreate the band’s sound in the most natural way possible, there’s not much of a leap in terms of how they actually pull off the songs, but like any live record worth a damn, there are tiny imperfections and changes to make it special for fans and other repeat customers.
Since it was recorded after the release of last year’s All, several cuts from that album make an appearance, including the 15-minute title track, the ?ber-catchy “Moon,” and “Lights.” A whopping 20-minute version of “Peace, Brothers & Sisters!” — actually shorter than the studio one that showed up on 2004’s self-titled — kicks off disc two, and “Love” is another highlight there, just as “Aquamaria” from 2006’s Tempel stands out on disc one. They go as far back as 2000’s CO2 with “Get it On” and “Inside,” which is the first part of a medley also including covers of “American Woman” by The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad‘s “Into the Sun.” Pay close attention and you’ll even catch a bit of “Hey Jude” in there. No joke.
If you’ve ever heard Colour Haze before and that’s not enough to pique your interest in Burg Herzberg Festival 18.Juli 2008, I’m not sure what to tell you. The chemistry between guitarist/vocalist Stefan Koglek and the rhythm section of Philipp Rasthofer on bass and Manfred Merwald on drums is a given, and though it’s all-too-easy to be distracted during some of the quieter parts (as on the beginning of “All,” for example) at an actual show, with it pressed to plastic, you get to delve into each and every note coming from the speakers without having to think about going to the bar to get your next beer.
Unless, of course, you’re listening to the CD at a bar that plays Colour Haze; if that’s the case, please email me because I’d like to come hang out.
I was thrilled to stumble on Burg Herzberg Festival 18.Juli 2008, and as a general admirer of the band’s work, I’m glad to add this to my collection. If you haven’t yet been turned onto them, you’ll probably want to start with one of the studio albums (Tempel is a good kickoff point, or the self-titled) rather than dive headfirst into two hours-plus of changing moods, tempos and volumes, but for the already initiated, this one should pretty much go without saying. Now if only we could get our hands on that Duna Jam record.
Tags: Colour Haze, Germany, Live records
