Music review: Deep Purple – ‘=1’
There’s nothing like a new Deep Purple album to make me feel like a teenager once again. Having just celebrated my 60th birthday, I was happily transported back in time after hearing “=1” from the British icons. As with most Deep Purple releases, the new album was made loud to be played loud.
Deep Purple will forever be associated with the rock anthem “Smoke on the Water,” the first (and only) song I ever learned to play on guitar. Back in 1972, I became an official fan after discovering the album “Machine Head” with this infectious number along with other guitar-driven arrangements like “Space Truckin'” and “Highway Star.” That album would open the door for me to explore the workings of other rock giants such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rainbow and UFO.
Fifty-two years later, the rock legends keep the music fresh with the release of a robust 13-track set that features original drummer Ian Paice, veteran lead vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Don Airey and newly added guitarist Simon McBride, who joined the lineup in 2022 after longtime member Steve Morse departed for personal reasons. McBride’s inspired playing adds a deeper shade of purple to the band’s new arrangements.
As on recent releases, Bob Ezrin once again works his producing magic as he revitalizes the group’s sound by masterfully navigating through a steady barrage of substantial rock arrangements possessing weighty doses of blues and potent traces of progressive rock.
“I’m pickin’ up a new vibe/It’s nothing too much,” declares Gillan on “Pictures of You” as if to firmly demonstrate that it’s all business as usual for the band these days.
“Lazy Sod” is one of the many highlights of the set that features the band’s signature sound showcasing McBride’s passionate guitar work. “The world is on fire/There’s smoke all around my head,” proclaims Gillan. Could it be the same smoke from 1971 filtering down from the Lake Geneva shoreline? Gillan sounds as enthusiastic now as he did when recording in Switzerland and watching the Montreux Casino methodically burn to the ground.
I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Deep Purple perform live. Needless to say, they don’t disappoint or miss a heart-pounding beat on stage. I highly recommend catching a show at a city near you as part of the band’s North American tour during August and September with progressive rockers Yes.