Music review: Deep Purple – -Whoosh!’
Where does the time go?
Back in 1972, a friend turned me on to âMachine Headâ from a British band with a cool name and a guitarist that would inspire me to eventually start a band.
With tracks like âSmoke on the Water,â âSpace Truckin'â and âHighway Star,â it seemed like every cool kid in my school owned a copy of âMachine Headâ in one form or another. Its influence would lead me to follow other bands with similar styles like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Rainbow.
Forty-eight years later, the rock icons keep the music fresh with the release of a vigorous 13-track set that features original drummer Ian Paice, longtime members Ian Gillan on lead vocals and bassist Roger Glover with assistance from keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Steve Morse continuing the bandâs tradition of delivering substantial rock arrangements containing weighty doses of blues and small traces of progressive rock.
âWhoosh!â is Deep Purpleâs 21st album and the third consecutive studio release with Bob Ezrin masterfully handling the duties at the producerâs table and getting the most out of the band once again with performances that embrace early Deep Purple efforts.
âYou canât escape tomorrow, itâs another day/Iâm hanging here, Iâm here on solid ground,â sings Gillan on the opening number as if to prove the bandâs ability to stand the test of time.
âDrop the Weaponâ is a call for cooler heads to prevail during these uneasy times as Gillanâs soulful vocals and Aireyâs soaring keyboards provide the timely track with a vintage Deep Purple vibe.
âNothing at Allâ is a rock ballad that addresses the uncertainty of the future with fond memories of the past and simpler times when love was innocent and charming as Gillan sings, âWhen I hear about the doom and gloom/Thatâs around the corner and coming soon/I take a sip of motherâs ruin/And sit with my back to the wall.â
Rousing rockers âNo Need to Shoutâ and âThe Long Way Roundâ serve as a high-octane joyride demonstrating that the boys can still stir things up with plenty of gusto.
âDancing in My Sleepâ closes things on a positive note with Gillan declaring, âI get the feeling everything will be alright.â And somehow I believe him.
No matter how fast the years roll by, âWhoosh!â proves that Deep Purpleâs sound will never go out of style.
Clint Rhodes is the Ăć±±œû”Ű music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.