How much deeper Live will submerge themselves into Ed Kowalcyzk's quest for divine consciousness -- or whatever other spiritual collateral the frontman is fixated on -- will be answered on the group's next album, due out late this year or early next.

On the abbreviated first day of the Tibetan Freedom Concert this past weekend, Live previewed three songs from the forthcoming record: "Fishes," "Don't Wait" and "Change." According to bassist Patrick Dahlheimer, the band has between sixteen and eighteen songs written for the next, yet-untitled album, which the band began writing after their "Secret Samadhi" tour last summer. Jerry Harrison, who produced 1994's Throwing Copper and 1991's Mental Jewelry, will end Jay Healy's (1997's Secret Samadhi) brief reign as co-producer and command the console for the band when they begin recording in Sausalito, Calif. later this summer. Harrison played keyboards for the band during the Tibetan gig and has done so on the band's current mini-tour of clubs on the East coast.

Dahlheimer says developing new material for the album has been "a lot easier" and "more fun" than previous writing sessions. "It's been zero to no pressure," he says. "We've had time to work a few weeks, take a few weeks off, and get back together. We're learning as people, and we're also learning that we have that common thing which is the band. It's painless, it's fun again, which is good."

BLAIR R. FISCHER
(June 16, 1998)