The Paiste company sent me over a bunch of newish cymbals recently to evaluate. Some of them I'd seen before, but none of them had ever been struck in anger by me! They're very much a mixed bag so I'll simply list them as I played them.

The Novo is a reasonably new product from Paiste. It's a 'Chinese' special-effect cymbal which is designed to have more than one playing surface (and sound), yet still sit on the cymbal stand in a civilised way. To this end the bell has been inverted, and its shape changed. It's a dome now, not a square-shouldered cup. So, I hear you asking, what difference does it make? Well, besides the fact that it sits in a better riding position, it also has a totally different sound. Of course it has that 'full-of-Eastern-promise' clashing sound but with a difference. For a start its bell is playable and gives a slightly hollower sound; its 'flat' portion is tasteful and not too strident. The inner flange is really aggressive while the outer edge itself, is much brighter but with less middle. Novos are only available in 2002 materials in 18", 20" and 22" diameters. (Funnily enough when you increase their size,you increase their volume, but their overall sound remains very constant. They do not work well if you turn them upside-down).

Paiste's Rude range of instruments now have their 'China-types'too. These, however, are the more traditional sort with square-shouldered bell and upturned flange. Two popular sizes are being produced, 18" and 20", both in a medium weight. They're much less tasteful sounding than the Novo; much brasher. They have a really good explosive sound which would be perfect for punctuation. I preferred the crash sound with the cymbal the right way up, and the ride with it upside-down. If used like this there are four distinct sounds possible including inside the bell.

Power Ride is a new heavier cymbal which is only found in the 2002 range. They're only made in the larger sizes (20" and 22") at the moment and are very thick. There's very little discernible difference in sound from bell to outside edge; it is very distinct until you get to the last half-inch or so of the edge and would work equally well, I suspect, for aggressive Jazz or perhaps Foreigner-type Rock.

Nowadays there's a series of really heavy 'crash' cymbals in 2002 (and 508 if you're interested) designed primarily for heavy music. Three sizes are produced; 16", 18" and 20" and they're absolutely ideal to complement those 'Power Rides'. There really is extra strength to their crash sound and yet they still don't sound at all 'gongy'. It can't have been easy to incorporate strength and a 'breathy' quality too. I found the 16" perfect. It was round but with edge too.

As I was slaving over this hot typewriter the postman brought me a letter from Switzerland. Yes, it was from Paiste and was a press release about their new coloured cymbals. I must say I was sceptical at first, and in the back of my mind had the same feeling of 'deja vu' I got when I first saw the Novo. Anyway, the new cymbals are called Colour Sound 5, and I suspect use cheaper formula blanks and are available in any colour you like, so long as its black, red, blue or green! I have to say I liked them a lot. The colour is in the pigment so the sound isn't affected adversely by the process.

Rumour has it that it's actually improved by the process; it gives the shortest sound of any Paiste cymbal. It may well be that we'll be seeing blokes using one or two of the coloured cymbals in their normal set.

These rainbow cymbals will be available by the time you read this. Prices for all cymbals mentioned vary wildly according to size so check with your local Paiste stockists.