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Because
Germany’s Colour Haze is such a great band, they can’t
be forever placed at fault for still, about nine
recordings into their career, sounding very much like
Kyuss. If you are in the know of their doings and are a
stoner rock fan and therefore rejoice the uber quality
of their music, all is forgiven. Besides, I may just be
the only asshole left still highlighting the fact.
I was
converted when I heard their 2006 release Tempel and even
though All ventures much further, sometimes aimlessly,
into jam territory, it is impossible to deny their wonderfully
chosen tones and deep grooves. Quite frankly at times, it seems
like this trio is the embodiment of everything stoner. It’s just
funny to think that a German band is making the best desert rock
in the world. Plus, I am a huge Kyuss fan, and Colour Haze is at
times, as good as them desert boys.
All
starts poignantly. In songs like “Silent” it is obvious that
even though Colour Haze are using the sound of Kyuss as a
backdrop, they are also developing their branch of stoner rock.
Guitarist and vocalist Stefan Koglek has developed his vocal
chords to remain calmed and laid back, his delivery is patient
and soothing and his guitar playing is masterful. As a top
student of Josh Homme’s low tunage, Koglek drops the bottom
sound only when the songs explode, for the most part he controls
his volumes through sliced up riffs and funky patterns. In
“Moon” his guitar takes the backseat to a rumbling bass only to
smoothly catch up to the lead through an apotheosic last minute
of instrumental mastery. It’s this calmed simmer that’s come to
distinguish Colour Haze’s music. The contrasts are beautiful. In
turn, “Turns” is psychedelic and calmed, a bizarre yet sublime
meeting of acoustic and otherworldly noise. Very nice.
Unfortunately, All overstays its welcome. Where the
nearly brilliant first eight songs feature solid material
through somewhat concise songs (considering this is a jam band
anyway), Colour Haze decides to indulge in its jam based
passions and that results in songs that are excessively long and
consistently wonder off into a nebula of sound. The most
telling example of this is the almost fifteen minute long title
track, where the band spends about four minutes building an
unmemorable flat melody. When the song finally explodes into fat
bottomed guitars (around the seventh minute), it’s clear that
not even Koglek’s guitar is feeling like weeping gently. A nine
minute song called “Fall” follows, it’s just as calmed and quiet
and unfortunately, just as uneventful. My recommendation is stay
on the safe side, if they stick to the first half fans of stoner
rock have no way of losing with Colour Haze.
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