Deep Purple Infinite (2017)

From darkerthanblue.wordpress.com

Having been playing this for a few days now it will be interesting to see what everyone else makes of it. Now What did mark a bit of a change in direction and experimentation and this one feels like it was recorded in much the same spirit. Overall it’s very solid musically; there are nods to Purple’s past which many will pick up on, but it’s often a grungier and denser sound than the last album, and were they to graft a large chunk of these tracks into the stage set this year (if!) it should make for a killer show.

In a way it is a shame they feel they can’t trial tracks so much on stage now for fear of pirating, as some of the material does sound like it comes from a standing start, whereas the one cut they have done live is quickly becoming a favourite. There are a couple too many good time late night bar stories from Ian Gillan lyrically for me, in these uncertain times there are more pressing matters which might have inspired another barbed lyric or two, and certainly the backings would take a heavier approach in this department from the front man. But when he does find the muse outside the tavern it all comes together and Birds Of Prey is a good example, sounding very grown up.  I think this is the one Classic Rock sort of dismissed as a Zepp knock off (in fact I was more reminded of Yes at one point, maybe CR’s prog rock comments were more on the button than I realised); yes Steve gives it a real Pagey type rhythm, but takes it much further and to me CR missed the point rather; once you move on from the opening few bars it is very much a Purple track and it’ll be a proper humdinger on stage, believe me.

Time For Bedlam most have now heard and it makes a strong opener. I can hear the Pictures Of Home echoes which some have mentioned, reinforced mostly by Ian’s vocal melody line and Steve Morse’s work, but it’s hardly a distraction. I still can’t make my mind up about the chanted vocal section which top and tail this but otherwise it is infused with the spirit of Purple throughout.

The Surprising is one of the longer offerings, and they range far and wide over the course of a sometimes slower more laid back track. Lovely vocals from Ian, full of emotion at times. The band sort of go for epic, me I’d have been as happy to edit out the wandering middle section and tighten it all up, but it clearly gives them a kicking off point for a live take. There are nods back to Gates Of Babylon here, and even Clannad at one point for those old enough to remember them.

Hip Boots is one which has been around for a while and whilst it may not (though give it time) be a killer track, it has grown on me a lot and you can see why they gave it second place in the running order. I love the loose rambling feel to it and Steve’s playing (which it has to be said is stunning here) is absorbing, while Don likewise gives it just the right amount of Hammond. Worth the price of admission alone.
The band get dirtier on One Night In Vegas, which reminds me a little of Almost Human, one of my favourites from the SM era, and the same vibe runs through Get Me Outta Here although lyrically the latter doesn’t really stir the pot enough for me.

The riff to Johnny’s Band is bugging me, it’ll click eventually I’m sure. Ian has covered this sort of ground before on Purpendicular and places. It’s OK in a road house sort of way and Radio 2 apparently went for if big time the other week, so at least listeners there will know about the album.

Elsewhere people will love as I do Roger’s thumping bass through On Top Of The World which should sound great via some decent speakers. I’m less convinced by All I Got Is You, despite the care worn vox and often caustic lyrics, while for me the cover version which they inexplicably tag onto the end of the album is a box set bonus at best.  Though Ann reckons it’s IG’s best singing on the album, so it’s already dividing opinion at DPAS towers.  On first listen it just sounded like a studio warm up, and it has since been confirmed that’s exactly what it is.  It might have worked better sequenced earlier in the album, but I won’t be rushing back.

Well, some good tracks to add to the now two decade long Steve Morse era output and I’m sure everyone who has stuck with the band thus far will find something here to enjoy in varying degrees. I should add I’ve been listening to fairly compressed official MP3s (with permission!) so it seems silly to try and comment on overall sound and production until I buy the CD. And buy it I will.  Simon Robinson

I’m generally enjoying it more with each listen… Time for Bedlam – A solid opener, the vocoder effect seems fitting and natural after a few spins.  A restrained vocal means that much can be conveyed with slight inflections – as seen with IG’s ‘We are never alone’ line towards the end.  Rather wonderful.
Hip Boots – Sprightly, sweary, no nonsense – this is good stuff actually.  Much better than the rather tentative limited run of live try-outs would suggest.

All I Got is You – The old put-down (‘You’ve got me, but all I’ve got is you’) is given a pleasing run-out in what initially seems to be a fairly standard Mk Morse/Airey type work-out.  A space age solo from Don merges into a laidback one from Steve.  Improves with repeated listening.  More swearing from IG to finish!

One Night in Vegas –  IG in storyteller mode, Don in bar room boogie mode.  Good, if slightly cruise-controlly for this band.

Get Me Outta Here – Lovely Paicey intro and then a backing that initially brings ‘Nasty Piece of Work’ from ‘Battle Rage On’ to mind.  Again, solid if lacking a little oomph… the brooding backing deserves better than the rather lazy lyric writing here.

The Surprising –  Now we’re talking! Eerie keyboards give way to moody guitar (which sounds like Metallica according to my daughter) – which set up IG’s mournful  almost Johnny Cash-like vocal – and he’s in storyteller mode again – to great effect! ‘There I was, wide awake and dreaming…’ – marvellous.  Authoritative drumming from Paicey heralds the instrumental breaks with Don’s almost movie soundtrack like keyboard work suiting the mood perfectly. Steve almost blows it with a fairly standard Dregs/Classical Gassy type solo, before bringing it back down nicely before the coda.  Extraordinary track.

Johnny’s Band – Radio-friendly Purple (Ken Bruce has already played it on BBC Radio 2).  A sort of tamed-down ‘Junkyard Blues’ riff backs more IG story telling, this time about…well, a band obviously.  A little lightweight maybe, but pleasant enough.

On Top of the World – Starts out as a fairly standard Airey/Morse backing track, but repeated listenings reveal a nice solid latter-day Purple track, with more storytelling in the vocals. Nice solos, and even the rather strange spoken section towards the end is starting to bed-in a bit now.

Birds of Prey – The battle for my favourite track is between this and ‘The Surprising’; here we have a great brooding rock track that builds and builds to a shattering finish.  A display of controlled power and musical dynamics. Great stuff!

Roadhouse Blues –  Somewhat disposable warm-up type treatment of The Doors song here.  Comparable to ‘It’ll Be Me’ from NW?!  Misplaced after the fitting crescendo of ‘Birds of Prey’, which would have made a suitable finale to the album.  There probably is a place for this sort of Purple (a ‘Basement Tapes’ type album?) – but last song on this album isn’t it.

Overall a mixed bag then – repeated listenings are helping appreciate the ‘lesser’ tracks (well, most of them).  A worthy effort all the same.  Hopefully it won’t be the last studio album, but if it is, then it’s not a bad way to go out.

Deep Purple Infinite (2017)

From progarchives.com

Review by siLLy puPPy

An unbelievable half century, yes that’s correct, 50 years(!!!) since the seeds of the group were sown in their first incarnation called Roundabout, the band that became Deep Purple just a year later has defied the odds of surviving far into the following century. Almost as if giving a sign of their intent to stay around forever, they release their 20th studio album Infinite (which cleverly depicts the initials DP forming the infinity sign that has been broken into ocean ice floes by the icebreaker USCGC Healy of the US Coast Guard) in 2017 although the first single “Time For Bedlam” was released as a teaser in Dec 2016 and caught my attention as it signaled that the band were aiming for their classic early 70s sound when they were hitting high notes with “In Rock” and “Machine Head.”

Despite the classic Mark II sound, this is the same Deep Purple lineup that has been consistent since 2003’s “Bananas” album with longtime members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice alongside newbies Steve Morse filling the shoes of the classic Ritchie Blackmore and Don Airey taking over the keyboard duties of legendary Jon Lord. Despite the newer lineup, everyone successfully channeled their inner early 70s zeitgeists and create one of the most retro albums of their career with Infinite.

After an unusual monk like chant accompanying a droning synthesizer the band jumps right into their classic business on the opener “Time For Bedlam” which contains all of the elements that made the classic period so damned good as they check off each and every one of them. All those classic guitar riffs and melodic solos? Check. Magical organ runs that provide ample amounts of atmosphere and exquisitely designed classical workouts? Check. Catchy hooky melodies that make memorable sing-alongs? Check. Percussive drive with all the rhythmic breaks and appropriate pauses? Ditto.

Even Ian Gillan sounds the same although it’s somewhat obvious at times that he has passed his prime but at the age of 71 his voice has held up quite well. The only time i feel he’s woefully substandard is on the Doors cover track “Roadhouse Blues,” but then again who could possibly fill Jim Morrison’s shoes?!!!

Infinite delivers exactly what you would expect from a retro sounding album that somewhat makes the listener wonder if the album was actually created in the early 70s and the band have just finally gotten around to it as every aspect including lyrical content brings one back to a more care-free era of energetic hard rock and free love at its creative peak. While Deep Purple released a fair number albums of this type in the 70s, the songwriting has always been a bit hit and miss on some of their lesser knowns but on Infinite they manage to conjure up a whole album’s worth of catchy hard hitting tracks that for the listening time suspend all belief that the most members are well into their 70s and the youngest band member, Steve Morse is 62!

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this album is the letting-it-loose keyboard skills of Don Airey who unleashes his playing prowess in myriad forms. Not only does he emulate Jon Lords rhythmic key riffing of the past but dishes out some seriously quickened and individualized solos and really fills Lord’s shoes in every possible way while adding his own touches that fit in with the intended retro sound so well.

If a totally retro Depp Purple album appeals to you then you are in for a treat. The album is particularly strong in the songwriting department and will truly tinkle your ivories with riff and after riff reminding you of the good old days however this album is not without its flaws. My main gripe is with the horribly compressed production which sounds too flat and tinny for its own good. Perhaps they were trying too hard to sound authentically retro but ultimately this is the biggest impediment for enjoying the album despite the great tracks. Ultimately this is a decent comeback album that follows the direction initiated by 2013’s “Now What?!” with a return to bluesy hard rock with that classic keyboard sound but for an album that is released in 2017 I would expect a more robust engineering job in the studio even if the final desired product was to be as 1972 as possible, I mean even albums from1972 sound better than this.

As for the music itself, i personally think this is the best Deep Purple album since 1984’s “Perfect Strangers” as I’ve always found the three decades of material that came after to be fairly stagnant and well,,,, boring! Infinite finds Deep Purple realizing they needed to move away from their less than exciting experiments they’ve engaged in and revert back to what they have always been the best at, namely crank out the classic keyboard driven hard rock gusto that made them a household name in the first place and with Infinite they more than prove that they don’t need Blackmore or Lord to revisit those glory days.