Delirious? - Live & In The Can

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Holding the new Delirious? album 'Live And In The Can" in my hand, it's easy to see how it lives up to that description. It's a live album and it comes in a can! But be careful and call the spiritual bomb disposal unit to open this incendiary device of an album. Passion is burnt into the grooves of the CD and they come pouring out of every song. Recorded in the first half of 1996. the album consists of stonking, groovy, brilliant versions of tunes from the Cutting Edge albums, a couple of new songs and some places where the band head off into unknown territory of spontaneous worship. Wallop them all together and you get an album that cooks! The live sound is clean and clear, audience participation is enthusiastic but not intrusive in the mix. The mellower songs like "Oh Lead Me" and "Obsession" have an intensity here which wasn't as evident on the original studio recordings. "The Lord's Prayer" which closes the album is like a battle cry for God to have his will on earth whereas "What A Friend I've Found" and some of the quiet spontaneous songs are characterised by a vulnerability and overwhelming sense of passion which is communicated through Martin Smiths singing. Having said that, at last it seems as though many of us are finally understanding that Delirious? are more than simply Smith and a backing band. Listening to this album, there's an awesome sense of communal movement in response to the Spirit with the band flowing together. These guys are tight and so capable of creating both sensitive, moody beauty and rock "n" rolling anthemic celebration. The latter is best expressed in the albums opener, an edgy version of "I'm Not Ashamed" as well as "Come Like You Promise" and the blindingly brilliant "I've Found Jesus". All are drenched in Brit poppy sounds built around Stuart Garrard's chunky guitar.