Announcing back in April that they would be releasing their a brand new studio album entitled =1 later in 2024, Deep Purple officially thwarted any potential noise concerning their retirement from both touring or producing Rock-n-Roll music. Their first album of original tracks since 2020’s chart-topper Whoosh!, =1 arrives on Friday July, 19, 2024 via earMUSIC for all listeners, young and seasoned, to indulge in.
Looking back at their rich history, even after fifty-five years and over 100 million records sold, Deep Purple – which currently consists of band veterans Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums), and Don Airey (keyboards) – show they are anxious to add a heavy, head-rocking record that lets the world know they have no intention of winding down. Especially the case with the new Guitarist Simon McBride (Snake Charmer/Sweet Savage), welcomed into the fold after immensely talented, long serving Guitarist Steve Morse left in 2022, you could argue Deep Purple is rejuvenated, and noticeably pushed their creativity to higher limits with = 1.
A bold statement, considering = 1 is Deep Purple’s twenty-third studio album, in total you get thirteen songs lasting just under an hour. Opening with a bouncing guitar noodle from McBride in “Show Me,” both the band and longtime producer Bob Ezrin (Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd) show that they are not only open to embracing the changes that have occurred not only throughout the music industry, but in their collective, as well.
Compared most recently to their work on Whoosh!, Deep Purple has returned to the heavy, almost fog-like sound cultivated during the long-passed early days that flipped the Rock-n-Roll
world on its head and led to them being named one of the top five most influential bands of all time on Planet Rock. This in mind, it appears Deep Purple is writing with their long-storied past in mind. They are not trying to pretend that they are still smoldering in their twenties, but rather, that they can make productive adjustments that adhere to their age restrictions, but maintain the level of artistry and music-making capabilities that still keeps them at the summit of their profession.
Looking into it all, songs such as “Old-Fangled Thing,” and “Lazy Sod,” are their own time-machines; filled with sharp, blues-laden guitar runs, bass-lines that seem to be supervised
by Paice on drums, but are chemical weaves between McBride and Glover, sounding like they have been working with each other every day for five decades and not just a few short years.
However, the biggest eye-opener is a slowed-down track entitled “If I Were You.” Opening with an airy guitar solo, it immediately breaks into a crooning growl that would make Tom Waits himself blush. Gillan maintains these vocals tremendously as McBride, Paice, and Glover continue their intricate, head-bopping needle work, together, culminating in a guitar solo that even if it was the only positive on this record would make it a must buy. This is while “If I Were You,” creates a significant change in the energy of the album, and is perfectly located right in the middle of the record.
Overall, =1 cements that Deep Purple is vitally focused on still creating some great Rock-n-Roll music. They are all still working with such creativity and finesse… that slowing down would almost be foolish. Simply put, Deep Purple’s =1 tells critics that they better be ready for the heavy, original type of Rock-n-Roll that they complain no one is producing anymore. Getting a message across with no frills Rock that is a must listen, Cryptic Rock gives = 1, 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment