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H.A.A.R.P. stands for “High frequency Active Auroral Research Program” and is a US research program that investigates to control ionospheric processes that might alter the performance of communication and surveillance systems. Some people however believe it enables control over the weather and can be used as a very deadly weapon and will be used by a small elite club to install a New World Order in the future. It’s also the name of the Muse live album that was released a few weeks ago.

So this time not a blog about a live concert but a live album. It contains both a CD and a DVD with live registrations of their performances in Wembley last year. The DVD holds 18 tracks and the CD has 14 tracks similar to the DVD. I’ve seen Muse perform live several times over the past years. Every tour grew bigger and more impressive in terms of lighting and effects. The HAARP tour is no exception. It’s the biggest they’ve done so far. A big screen at the back of the stage. Lots of lights and effects and futuristic stage attributes. However somehow they can keep the focus on the music. It’s impressive to see how they manage to make a wall of sound with only three musicians (although they had some help of other musicians now and then). And it’s all very well thought through and played almost to perfection without getting to styril. So how does it hold at home on your TV or home entertainment system?

In short: very nicely. It turned into a high quality and professional production. The camera shots are diverse making it a dynamic experience. The sound quality and mix is very good. The sound does kind of lack the actual live atmosphere but this is not something I found disturbing. As you may expect from Muse the performance itself is outstanding. The whole production grasps the experience of a Muse concert as good as possible on a DVD. Maybe even more when you would view it on a large screen and quality surround set (which I don’t have). The best thing still is seeing the concert performed in a nice concert hall by Muse themselves.

Maybe it’s not a deadly weapon or a device to control the weather. But this live production will definitely change your mood for the better. After seeing this it will leave you standing or sitting in awe only longing for a real live Muse concert.

So what’s next for Muse? They’ve come so close to perfection what’s left to do? Even bigger and more impressive (I think that’s what they hinted on themselves)? And then a 3D movie experience like U2 did with their Vertigo tour? Or maybe the opposite: going back to small and intimate. Who can tell but let’s hope it will be even better.