Product Description

Time has not slowed down English hard rock veterans Deep Purple, as is evident on PURPENDICULAR. Lineup changes are nothing new to Deep Purple, yet the band has managed to create high-quality material regardless of who is in the group. Theclassic personnel are intact here, with the exception of Ritchie Blackmore, who has been replaced by ex-Dixie Dregs andKansas guitarist Steve Morse. It is the addition of Morse that takes the band into uncharted territory.
The shredding opening licks of "Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic" show Morse's immediate influence. The song has a fantastic bass groove, courtesy of Roger Glover. The atmospheric and melodic "Loosen My Strings", with its piano background, is a beautiful tune.Melody is an integral part of PURPENDICULAR in such songs as "A Touch Away" (a touching ballad) and "The Aviator". On "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming", vocalist Ian Gillan does just that, unleashing his trademark wail. "Soon Forgotten" showcases Jon Lord's formidable Hammond bashing, while "Somebody Stole My Guitar" shows what Mr. Morse can do. PURPENDICULAR is an adventurous outing that explores some new directions for the band. But after one listen, longtime fans will still be seeing Purple.

Track Listing

1. Vavoom Ted The Mechanic
2. Loosen My Strings
3. Soon Forgotten
4. Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
5. Cascades I'm Not Your Lover
6. Aviator
7. Rosa's Cantina
8. Castle Full Of Rascals
9. Touch Away
10. Hey Cisco
11. Somebody Stole My Guitar
12. Purpendicular Waltz

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20086 in Music
• Released on: 1996-02-03
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Inventive
It actually took me some years to listen to this album after its release, as quite frankly I got fed up with the whole Purple pantomime after they sacked Gillan in the late 80's. It was purely out of curiosity that I bought this album about 5 years after its release and I couldn't believe how stupid I was to have ignored it for so long. I personally think Purples reunion albums with Blackmore were mediocre at best, whereas the variety of styles and musicianship on this album is outstanding- the much more revered "legends" such as Zeppelin and Sabbath could NEVER match the musicianship of Purple at their best. I actually think this is probably the most diverse album ever released by Deep Purple and is all the better for it. The whole band have the chance to shine on this recording and I particularly enjoyed the freedom that Jon Lord seemed to revel in without Ritchie. The only down side is that the Morse-era DP have not even come close to matching this with any of their subsequent releases.

A great album
This album is the best since Purple reformed in 1984. The diversity of the songs and the playing, is magnificent.

Interestingly the songs appear more complete and perhaps this has something to do with the new found harmony in the band. It was obvious that Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan were poles apart. So the introduction of guitar maestro Steve Morse as replacement for the then recently departed Ritchie (who subsequently would launch Blackmore's Night), was a masterstroke.

Steve's playing is sensational. "Sometimes I feel like screaming" is superb and is Purple at the magnificent best.

Seeing this new line-up of Gillan-Glover-Lord-Paice-Morse live, it was clear that there was more camaraderie and more togetherness.

This is a must buy album.

A great album
This album is the best since Purple reformed in 1984. The diversity of the songs and the playing, is magnificent.

Interestingly the songs appear more complete and perhaps this has something to do with the new found harmony in the band. It was obvious that Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan were poles apart. So the introduction of guitar maestro Steve Morse as replacement for the then recently departed Ritchie (who subsequently would launch Blackmore's Night), was a masterstroke.

Steve's playing is sensational. "Sometimes I feel like screaming" is superb and is Purple at the magnificent best.

Seeing this new line-up of Gillan-Glover-Lord-Paice-Morse live, it was clear that there was more camaraderie and more togetherness.

This is a must but album.