Post by jptheprofessor on Dec 15, 2005 20:46:19 GMT -5
DEEP PURPLE – RAPTURE OF THE DEEP (Eagle Records) Purists will probably forever argue the true merits of Deep Purple after guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's departure over a decade ago, and even more so after keyboardist Jon Lord's separation from the group three years ago. But over the eleven tracks of Deep Purple's latest album, Rapture Of The Deep, it becomes clear that both Blackmore's and Lord's replacements – Steve Morse and Don Airey, respectively – have settled into their roles and become interwoven into the fabric of the group's musical personality. Both Morse and Airey co-wrote all the songs along with Deep Purple mainstays, singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice. Their contributions – Morse's jazz-informed, inventive leads and Airey's playful and colorful fills – sound comfortably infused into the Deep Purple mix; and their ongoing solos, duels and interaction are constant highlights on the album. Deep Purple's sound remains rooted in blues-based heavy rock; but maintains the looser, sassier vibe of last year's Bananas album. Fans of conventional Deep Purple will find plenty to celebrate on Rapture Of The Deep; including the opening hard-rocking ode to financial greed "Money Talks," "Girls Like That," "Wrong Man" and the bleak future forecast "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye." The title track "Rapture Of The Deep" plays with a Middle-Eastern-styled melody; "Clearly Quite Absurd" takes a more tranquil tone; "Don't Let Go" and "Junkyard Blues" are more obviously blues-rooted; and the album-closer "Before Time Began" experiments with a revolving melody and escalating arrangement. Deep Purple has their fun, too, evidenced by "Back to Back" with its playful double-edged lyrics; and their sarcastic ode to current-day music broadcast media, "MTV." Ian Gillan's voice and wit again sound in good form, and the group's performances sound vibrant and inspired. Rapture Of The Deep doesn't reinvent Deep Purple, and at this stage of the game won't return them to the prominence of their Machine Head or even Perfect Strangers comeback periods. But it is a sturdy album that shows there is life for Deep Purple after Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord, and that the group's current inception is viable and doing just fine.