DEEP PURPLE - RAPTURE OF THE DEEP (2005, Edel)
Some terrible mighty stuff going on here, people. To me “Rapture” is a true balm for the soul. Against all the screamers who say that Purple without Lord and Blackmore are not Purple. True, they waste their live potential. It’s pure nonsense to say that their concerts are half as exciting as decade before. Nevertheless they stall can kick out the jams. After two years „Bananas” have turned out something of a grotesque (with the exception of a few tracks), so this line up needed the proper album to be culled out. And here it is.
What stuns one after first listening is the fact that there is no track that could be fully decided as a fake. Ones that seem to be weaker proposals at the start (“Back To Back” and “Junkyard Blues”) turn out killing chilling when it comes to their section with the solo parts. Things Airey and Morse do here – truly astonish. Not a bit of such stuff happened after Blackers before. If there is something mediocre here – then it could be „Wrong Man” – not really that exciting clone of „Silver Tongue”. In every other track you might find something that punches you straight in the face.
If not outstanding in terms of 38 years of legacy – some tracks are musical gems. “Girls Like That” with its beautiful intro, driving riff, up-tempo, Hammond only solo will surely make you dance and jump. You will surely want these girls after that! “Don’t Let Go” feels radio friendly but in a good way: very tasteful musically – you just like the tune and it makes you sway. The chorus will catch and never let go. Soloing is stylish and well balanced – Airey uses a fabulous electric piano colored keys. After a bunch of runs-thru this is my favorite. Doubts if it's a good album swept off.
And so we come to witnessing the monuments – and we have plenty of these here. Last time such a good proportion could’ve been seen on „Purpendicular”. “Money Talks” freaks you out straight from the punchy intro to the last note. Riff and chorus stand among the finest after-reunion ideas – terribly catchy, but heavy as a monster. This one will not easily leave your mind, trust me. A bit pity that middle declamation of Gillan ad Morse’s solo don’t stand out that well, which spoils the effect a bit. Still we have a cracker opening the set. What’s next on the glory road? “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”. A true madman’s boogie. A monster. Compared with that, „Fire In The Basement” is a feather. The whole band drives and pushes on like five maniacs possessed – heavy, heavy drive basing on a idea that seems to be rooting in swing! No sitting still, just let the body catch the vibe!
“Clearly Quite Absurd” may mislead your senses as the one of the most touching Purple ballads ever done. Yes – the basic motive is astonishingly beautiful and the note sequences all the way through caress the listener senses – the beauty coming out of a very sad melody and reflexive lyrics. But just wait when the middle breaking idea comes back at the end. In terms of keyboard craft what happens at the end is a sort of throwing a hand grenade into your mind. Watch out for that ballad. Your head may roll off the corpse. Never have a Purple ballad been so dangerous before. It’s a killer. It will be a classic.
If “Before Time Begun” is a trip into a progressive field – then Purple win again. It’s a sort of milestone for them in terms of every aspect that we name as typical for that band. Using the chord sequences, balancing and leveling the intensity of playing along with building up of the track structure. So much disquieting stuff is going on here. This one will leave you astonished. You’ll wonder if you know where you are but you will surely like this feeling.
And for the very last the title track. With all that it brings in to one's mind – melody, amazing multileveled orchestral keyboard layers, oriental feel, middle breaks, soloing – only one comparison can be done. Purple have finally written their very own “Stargazer”. And there is nothing bad in it. Gentle but pleasing similarities between these tracks don’t destroy the fact that “Rapture Of The Deep” is not an empty phrase. It’s all on the album. Tones of tasty musical raisins that you’re supposed to consume along with lots of yummie cake. At long last a mighty successor to the “Purpendicular”. Prepare to get sink into rapture of the Deep.
(C) (P), Martin Karski, February 2005
This was done right after the release of the album. From the four years perspective - I would debacle on the value of successing the "Purpendicular". Other thing is important: track that have seemed great by then, are still highly impressive now. I wish I could say the same about their stage craft now (but I can't).
Some terrible mighty stuff going on here, people. To me “Rapture” is a true balm for the soul. Against all the screamers who say that Purple without Lord and Blackmore are not Purple. True, they waste their live potential. It’s pure nonsense to say that their concerts are half as exciting as decade before. Nevertheless they stall can kick out the jams. After two years „Bananas” have turned out something of a grotesque (with the exception of a few tracks), so this line up needed the proper album to be culled out. And here it is.
What stuns one after first listening is the fact that there is no track that could be fully decided as a fake. Ones that seem to be weaker proposals at the start (“Back To Back” and “Junkyard Blues”) turn out killing chilling when it comes to their section with the solo parts. Things Airey and Morse do here – truly astonish. Not a bit of such stuff happened after Blackers before. If there is something mediocre here – then it could be „Wrong Man” – not really that exciting clone of „Silver Tongue”. In every other track you might find something that punches you straight in the face.
If not outstanding in terms of 38 years of legacy – some tracks are musical gems. “Girls Like That” with its beautiful intro, driving riff, up-tempo, Hammond only solo will surely make you dance and jump. You will surely want these girls after that! “Don’t Let Go” feels radio friendly but in a good way: very tasteful musically – you just like the tune and it makes you sway. The chorus will catch and never let go. Soloing is stylish and well balanced – Airey uses a fabulous electric piano colored keys. After a bunch of runs-thru this is my favorite. Doubts if it's a good album swept off.
And so we come to witnessing the monuments – and we have plenty of these here. Last time such a good proportion could’ve been seen on „Purpendicular”. “Money Talks” freaks you out straight from the punchy intro to the last note. Riff and chorus stand among the finest after-reunion ideas – terribly catchy, but heavy as a monster. This one will not easily leave your mind, trust me. A bit pity that middle declamation of Gillan ad Morse’s solo don’t stand out that well, which spoils the effect a bit. Still we have a cracker opening the set. What’s next on the glory road? “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”. A true madman’s boogie. A monster. Compared with that, „Fire In The Basement” is a feather. The whole band drives and pushes on like five maniacs possessed – heavy, heavy drive basing on a idea that seems to be rooting in swing! No sitting still, just let the body catch the vibe!
“Clearly Quite Absurd” may mislead your senses as the one of the most touching Purple ballads ever done. Yes – the basic motive is astonishingly beautiful and the note sequences all the way through caress the listener senses – the beauty coming out of a very sad melody and reflexive lyrics. But just wait when the middle breaking idea comes back at the end. In terms of keyboard craft what happens at the end is a sort of throwing a hand grenade into your mind. Watch out for that ballad. Your head may roll off the corpse. Never have a Purple ballad been so dangerous before. It’s a killer. It will be a classic.
If “Before Time Begun” is a trip into a progressive field – then Purple win again. It’s a sort of milestone for them in terms of every aspect that we name as typical for that band. Using the chord sequences, balancing and leveling the intensity of playing along with building up of the track structure. So much disquieting stuff is going on here. This one will leave you astonished. You’ll wonder if you know where you are but you will surely like this feeling.
And for the very last the title track. With all that it brings in to one's mind – melody, amazing multileveled orchestral keyboard layers, oriental feel, middle breaks, soloing – only one comparison can be done. Purple have finally written their very own “Stargazer”. And there is nothing bad in it. Gentle but pleasing similarities between these tracks don’t destroy the fact that “Rapture Of The Deep” is not an empty phrase. It’s all on the album. Tones of tasty musical raisins that you’re supposed to consume along with lots of yummie cake. At long last a mighty successor to the “Purpendicular”. Prepare to get sink into rapture of the Deep.
(C) (P), Martin Karski, February 2005
This was done right after the release of the album. From the four years perspective - I would debacle on the value of successing the "Purpendicular". Other thing is important: track that have seemed great by then, are still highly impressive now. I wish I could say the same about their stage craft now (but I can't).
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