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DEEP PURPLE “= 1”
DEEP PURPLE “= 1”
By Dark Starr
DEEP PURPLE have been putting out consistently strong stuff for a while now. This new release continues that trend. I wasn't sure what to expect because guitar wizard Steve Morse recently had to leave the band for family reasons. Well, new axe-man Simon McBride is clearly up to the task. This album feels very much like a DEEP PURPLE album, while also retaining some of the proggier things Morse brought to the table. This is familiar, and yet fresh. This is likely to make my "Best of 2024" list by the time the year is over. This edition of the release also includes a cool behind the scenes documentary of the band on tour. While that's great, it doesn't need to be to make this great. It is a bonus. The album sells itself.
A rather unusual and tentative guitar sound starts the opening "Show Me." They launch out after a time into a riff-driven jam that is much more what one expects from the band. This has a great energy and a lot of style. The keyboard and guitar showcase later in the track is absolutely on fire and gets pretty proggy. "A Bit on the Side" is next. This powerhouse has such a classic DEEP PURPLE sound. It's absolutely intense and driving. It also features smoking hot performances from all involved.
The hard rocker titled "Sharp Shooter" is another that feels like classic DEEP PURPLE. It's another screamer, if perhaps a little more straight-forward. The first single from the album, "Portable Door" is one of the highlights of the disc. It really feels like something from the classic era of the band, but with a little more prog and modern angle at play.
On "Old-Fangled Thing" we get another driving rocker with a lot of style. I really love the keyboard and guitar interplay on it so much. I dig the rocking groove on "If I Were You." It's got some killer guitar work on it. It's not what I'd call a standout, but the more bluesy angles work well. "Pictures of You" is another smoking hot DEEP PURPLE rocker. The thing is just what one expects from the band, but with some fresh vibes.
Another riff driven rocker, "I'm Saying Nothin'" is strong, but probably not a standout. I really love the classic PURPLE sound on "Lazy Sod ".It's another great entry in a particularly strong album. The energy and magic on "Now You're Talkin'" is so cool. It's a driving rocker that has a lot of classic DEEP PURPLE sound with some really screaming moments. The guitar soloing on this has some neo-classical angles and is positively sublime.
Powerful and built on some cool riffing, "No Money to Burn" is another new DP classic. I really love the keyboard showcase section later.
"I'll Catch You" comes next, and this slower, blues rocker has some amazing guitar work. The vocals are packed with emotion, and the song just works so well. The track is definitely a highlight for me. The closing "Bleeding Obvious" is a very dynamic number. Parts of it are typical DEEP PURPLE. Other sections get into more melodic proggy zones. It's all so classy, and the instrumental break later that takes it into full prog territory is absolutely on fire. It reminds me a little of YES at times.
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