Haze - Hazecolor-Dia (1971) [1997]

German band HAZE's 1971 album Hazecolor-Dia is primarily remembered today for possessing an interesting album cover. The cover, which was designed by NINE DAYS' WONDER founder and singer Walter SEYFFER, featured a plastic transparency over a picture of the band to create a slide picture frame. Neat, huh? Copies of the original vinyl are quite expensive these days.

The music behind the plastic transparency deserves some warrant too, but unfortunately, many of the details about Haze are unknown (including the name of their flute player). What is know is that Haze was made up of Kurt FREI on drums, Hans-Jurg FREI on rhythm guitar and organ, Heinz SCHWAB on lead guitar, Christian SCHERLER on vocals, and Dietmar LOW on bass and acting as solo songwriter. Their only record was produced by Peter HAUKE and Dieter DIERKS, who also produced NEKTAR's debut album.

HAZE dished out a brand of heavy, spacey, funky art rock that is most successfully compared to THE ARTHUR BROWN BAND, ARTHUR BROWN'S KINGDOM COME and CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, due to the music's bluesy feel and Scherler's vocals, which jump from dark gravel to over the top screeching.

It would also be safe to also compare the group to other members of the Krautrock scene, as well as heavy blues bands that were transitioning out of the psychedelic era into the 70's. However, Haze came equipped with a tricky sense of humor, best evident in the lyrics of "A Way To Find The Paradise". Unafraid to jam, the songs are loaded with lengthy instrumental passages that highlight Schwab's guitar skills (and the shortest track clocks in at a mere six and a half minutes). Recommended for all the freak rock fans out there.