My Soul Sings: Live From Bogota, Colombia by Delirious?

Reviewed by Haydon Spenceley

Throughout their long career, Delirious? have, to these ears at least, often been better suited to the live arena than the studio. It is in the realm of live performance that the power and passion of their songs has often come through most strongly. Here, we find the five-piece, on the final lap of their long career, and with new drummer Paul Evans making his debut appearance on a Delirious? recording, enthralling a 12,000 strong crowd of worshippers in Bogota, Columbia. This package is split into two parts First, a well-shot 14-track DVD of the band's Bogota concert, which shows that the event was an exciting, even sweaty, evening. Recent album 'Kingdom Of Comfort' is well-represented in the tracklisting, but songs from a smattering of other albums, including a neat re-working of a personal favourite of mine from the 'Mezzamorphis' album, "Bliss", leave you with plenty to enjoy. Long time band cohort Andy Hutch and lighting director Ed White do a sterling job of providing the watcher with a feeling of "being there", which must be one of the highest compliments one can pay to a live DVD. While this project doesn't soar in quite the same way as the band's previous live package, 'Now Is The Time', there remains much to admire here. The other disc in the package provides the audio from the concert with a couple of track changes, as "God's Romance" and recent b-side "Hallelujah" are added to the mix. As this looks likely to be the final Delirious? release (apart from the probably obligatory compilation albums) it's hard not to feel a tinge of disappointment that this is not quite as sonically pleasing and well-rounded as some of their output in the past. The mix, and particularly that of the rhythm section, lacks a little clarity and punch (unless I'm getting old!). What is beyond dispute though is that 'My Soul Sings' again finds Delirious? drawing people in to the presence of God. What could be a better legacy for this band than that?