Deep Purple: A Retrospective
Episode XX: Rapture of the Deep
It has now been more than a full four decades since Deep Purple formed. They have since seen all highs and lows of the hard rock genre, skyrocketing to fame with
Machine Head, but falling down when they failed to equal the success of the praised Mark II formation. Their post-reunion period in the 80’s was not their best, and when long-time member and key player Ritchie Blackmore chose to leave, most thought it was the end for the quintet from Hertford. Still, when virtuoso guitarist Steve Morse joined, a time of revitalization came. The band released two hits and one miss; the somewhat experimental
Purpendicular, the too sullen
Abandon, after which Jon Lord left, and the great, more playful
Bananas, featuring the skills of keyboardist Don Airey. Luckily, the boys got everything out of what they still were. By the start of this decade, they knew their limits and boundaries, and they applied that knowledge wisely. In 2005, they released their most recent work:
Rapture of the Deep.
Deep Purple Mk. VIII is:
- Ian Gillan ~ Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
- Steven J. Morse ~ Lead Guitar
- Roger David Glover ~ Bass Guitar
- Donald Airey ~ Keyboards
- Ian Anderson Pace ~ Drums
Their 18th studio album sees Deep Purple continuing the trend they set with
Bananas. It is, once again, a comfortable but fun approach that made Rapture, and that certainly bore some more fruit. Next to traditional, effective rockers such as the
Money Talks,
Back to Back and
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, there is also some fresher material. The title track is a highlight, incorporating an eastern groove, something the band has done before on a few occasions. The ballad
Clearly Quite Absurd is one of their finest yet (they only really started writing ballads when Morse jumped aboard), and remains satisfying because of its soothing piano work and Gillan’s emotional vocals.
The finest rockers can be found in
Don’t Let Go, with its playful piano break towards the end, and
Junkyard Blues, which features some of the best guitar-keyboard interplay on the album (as well as some of the best since some time).
MTV is a critical comment on the misunderstanding of Purple’s music by several journalists, but doesn’t forget to add a fitting, once again playful instrumental tone. The album is even closed off on a traditional epic note, with the six-and-a-half-minute
Before Time Began, a very well-built-up track.
Rapture of the Deep is solid all the way through, with nothing too amazing, as we do not expect of this band any more. Their years of amazement lie behind them. The real amazement lies in the fact that after 40 years in the industry, Deep Purple still manage to sound vital. Their latest studio album is, like its predecessor, proof of that. To be honest, there is a very, very small number of rock veterans that still produce such a record in these recent years. I salute Deep Purple for that.
Recommended tracks:
Rapture of the Deep
Clearly Quite Absurd
Junkyard Blues
Don’t Let Go
A Retrospective: Four Decades of Deep Purple
THE END
