The Moshville Times - Album Review: Deep Purple

You probably do not need an introduction to Deep Purple as they are pretty much a rock institution… but you are going to get a brief history anyway. Feel free to skip to the next paragraph if you do not need this Deep Purple primer! Formed in 1968, they have gone through many line-up changes over the years. These are generally referred to as Mark I through to Mark IX (the current incarnation). The only member of the original line-up is Ian Paice, the drummer, but also in the current incarnation are Ian Gillan (vocalist) and Roger Glover (bass) who both ed Deep Purple Mark II in 1969 and, apart from a couple of periods off for good behaviour, have both been in the band pretty much ever since. There is therefore a clear through link from early Deep Purple to the current band. Rounding off the current line up are Don Airey (keyboards), who took over from the legendary Jon Lord when he retired from Deep Purple in 2002, and Simon McBride (guitars) who ed the Mark IX version in 2022. An interesting piece of information (well, I think it’s interesting) from the mighty Wikipedia is that, when Jon Lord retired, he: “left his Hammond organ to his replacement, rock keyboard veteran Don Airey”. So even one of the new boys has a clear link back to earlier versions. As for Simon (the newest new boy!), have a look at the video at the end of this review: is it just me or does it look like Simon is someone’s grandson who has wandered into a home for aging rockers? (Sorry. That’s probably a bit harsh and not entirely fair! More about the video later.)

This is a review of their twenty-third studio album that revels in the name: =1. This is a band that has had some odd album names in the past (I offer The Book of Taliesyn as exhibit A and Whoosh! as exhibit B) but, in my opinion, =1 takes the purple biscuit! The press release offers an explanation for the title which is copied below; it may help you more than it helps me!

“The enigmatic title ‘=1’ symbolises the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris, and Berlin in recent days.“

You can see an example of the “mysterious equations” in the video at the end of this review, along with what I assume is an animated depiction of the multiverse. Now, I’m not a mathematician, but I am surprised to hear that “everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence” and all I know about the multiverse, I’ve learned from the Spiderverse films, so I wait with interest for the full reveal. What I’m taking from it at the moment is related to the “ever more complex” world section of the quote. We certainly live in a time when the haves are pitched against the have-nots; the left against the right; us against them… If we are talking about bringing the world closer together, to see there is more that unites us than divides us, I’m all for that! Leaving aside the odd title and the stark album sleeve, however, the real question is, how does it sound?

The album’s open track is: “Show Me”. As soon as I heard it, I thought: “And relax!”. It sounds like Deep Purple! It’s Ian Gillan on vocals. It’s heavy on the Hammond organ (presumably Jon Lord’s Hammond organ). It’s Ian Paice on drums. It’s Deep Purple! Phew! In particular, it is not just some old fogies going through the motions to make a quick buck, but it feels like a band that is enjoying making and sharing new music. (Which is why my “aging rockers” comment above is particularly unfair). As I listened through the album I became more relaxed and realised I had been concerned that, somehow, they were going to drop the ball. They didn’t. For example, by the time I got to track three, “Sharp Shooter”, I’d forgotten my worries and was just enjoying Simon McBride’s growling guitar work, the really interesting section (the middle eight?) after the first couple of verse/choruses… and then the awesome keyboard solo from Don Airey followed by an equally awesome guitar solo from Simon. I’m sold! Do not just take my word for it though. The band have released three singles from the album already so you can hear for yourself how the band are sounding. The Moshville Times has featured the third single, “Lazy Sod”, the second single, “Pictures Of You”, is on the band’s YouTube channel and the first single, “Portable Door” features at the end of this review. Check them out and decide for yourself.

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The band have already announced a bucket load of dates in Europe and the UK. Full details are in the Tour section of their website.

=1 More Time Tour dates

ing DEEP PURPLE in continental Europe will be JEFFERSON STARSHIP, while REEF will be special guests for the U.K. shows.

Oct. 17 – Katowice, Poland – Spodek Arena
Oct. 19 – Berlin, – Max-Schmeling-Halle
Oct. 20 – Berlin, – Messehalle
Oct. 22 – Mannheim, – SAP Arena
Oct. 23 – Munich, – Olympiahalle
Oct. 25 – Essen, – Grugahalle
Oct. 26 – Lingen, – Emsland Arena
Oct. 28 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
Oct. 29 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggodome
Oct. 31 – Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
Nov. 01 – Paris, – Zenith
Nov. 04 – Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
Nov. 06 – London, UK – 02
Nov. 07 – Leeds, UK – FD Arena
Nov. 09 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
Nov. 10 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro

Tracklist: