After fifty years in the biz and releasing some of rock's most defining albums, you could easily excuse Deep Purple if they decided to become a legacy band. Equally after releasing the released the exceptional Whoosh! and after long-time guitarist, Steve Morse departed, they could have joined stable mates Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath have hung up their rock hats and ended on a high, but Purple are still making new ground and moving their own goalposts.
Enter new guitarist Simon McBride, like a last minute subsuitution from the bench. The band have been reinvogorated and the result is a terrific result for the band (even if the album title iran't a showstealer, but don't let that stop you from diving into this album.)
The music combines classic 70s era and 80s Perfect Stranger sounds into a glorious slick and modern production by Bob Ezrin. His work on the album ensures that the record doesn't feel overcrowded, and each instrument is given space.
Gillian is approaching 80 and although his well-worn voice is a tad thinner in places, his energy and characteristic twinkle and humour are speckled in the album. It's this naughtiness that has always endeared Purple to fans of rock, especially when so many bands take themselves far too seriously. The lyrics are at times a bit of schoolboy charm and nonsense - take 'Portable Door' as an example, but that's part of the appeal.
The energy never drops even on the ballad 'If I Were You', it allows Gillan's vocals to shine.
Don Airey fluid organ solos jump out at you on tracks like 'Show Me'. Glover and Paice - the trusty engine of the band never falters and newbie McBride's guitar work slots right in, you'd think he's been there all along. Don't get me wrong, it's not that he's trying to be a facsimile of Blackmore or Morse, but in terms of tone and energy, he hits the mark every time.
The album tracks might be shorter in length than some of DP's back catalogue, but these bite-sized masterpieces cram a lifetime of experience. Take 'Lazy sod', it has two guitar and keyboard solos and is a beast of track summing up the album in terms of style and sound. There are some familiar DP grooves on the excellent 'Old Fangled Things' and 'Picture of You' that never get a chance to let rip. Maybe they'll shake things up when they take this on the road. 'Lazy Sod' in particular needs to be extended beyond the 4-minute mark.
Even though their touring days may be neigh, Deep Purple still sound like a band with plenty more left to give.
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