The original Defrosted album was released way back in 1997 and was Gotthard’s very first live album and fourth album to date. In Switzerland it’s legendary – reaching double-platinum in a matter of months. To this day it’s still seen as a milestone for those rock fans outside of Switzerland. To date it’s a career that includes 16 No.1-albums, over three million records sold, multiple awards and over 2000 shows all over the planet.
If you’ve missed out on the last 25 years of Gotthard then this sumptuous live release is as good a place as any to start as the band rework acoustically their greatest hits. The album itself was recorded on the ‘Defrosted Tour’ in March 2018 and there’s a real chemistry between band and audience that seeps through this recording. But as well as the 22 song showcase fans also get to hear 2 brand new tracks in acoustic format.
Starting with one of my favourites – the soothing melodic ‘Miss Me’ we’re right into good time sing-along territory for ‘Out on My Own’ before ‘Bang’ adds yet another texture and rocks a little harder. It’s a great start and as you can imagine for a band with such a lengthy history there’s plenty to fit in.
Throughout there are some nice touches like the ‘Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution’ opening bars to ‘Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller’ a honky-tonk tour de force; or the bongo beat that starts ‘Hush’ one of a number of covers the band make their own. The rest is pretty much a joy from a setlist that doesn’t seem to have a weak spot – there’s the wonderful ‘Heaven’; the come-back single ‘Remember It’s Me’; the tender ‘Beautiful’; and the wonderfully apt closing cover of ‘Smoke on the Water.’
The two new studio tracks also get an acoustic treatment with the rocking ‘Bye Bye Caroline’ a song inspired by that Status Quo classic (Caroline) and featuring a guest appearance by Francis Rossi a nice fun workout. The new ballad ‘What I Wouldn’t Give’ is rather special and makes you realise that this is a band with so much more ahead of them. It’s a lovey arrangement that drips emotion, and which is sure to elicit the requisite volume of salty tears.
Put this one on the Christmas list!
CD 1: MISS ME |OUT ON MY OWN |BANG |SWEET LITTLE ROCK N´ ROLLER |BEAUTIFUL |FEEL WHAT I FEEL |HUSH |REMEMBER IT’S ME |STAY WITH ME |TEQUILA SYMPHONY|MOUNTAIN MAMA
CD 2:WHY |C’EST LA VIE |ONE LIFE ONE SOUL |TELL ME |STARLIGHT |SISTER MOON |RIGHT ON|LIFT U UP |HEAVEN |ANYTIME ANYWHERE |SMOKE ON THE WATER + NEW TRACKS: BYE BYE CAROLINE (Acoustic version) and WHAT I WOULDN’T GIVE (Acoustic version)