Deep Purple - ‘Rapture Of The Deep’ (Edel) Released 24/10/05

 

The title track with its hint of the exotic that twists itself around the song bears a progression that is frighteningly natural. You can sense the merging of the band into one being. And ‘Clearly Quite Absurd’; the softness that is at the heart here is of a kind that is fully individual, as Deep Purple manage to achieve what so many other bands of their vintage fail to do. Elsewhere, ‘Don’t Let Go’ is built upon by the guitar and vocals, but has a chorus line that doesn’t quite fit in as comfortably as the rest of the number gels together. ‘Back To Back’ is again a track that shows that combination between the vocals and music that this band own. Look for the humour in the lyrics. ‘Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye’ is harder and heavier and sits firmly on the shoulders of the drum work of Ian Paice. Reminiscent of the early Deep Purple works it has a vitality that will surprise many. Later, ‘MTV’ is an anthem for those whose souls will forever be stamped with the words ‘ROCK MUSIC’ - there’s a defiance in the keyboard playing here that tells you this is how to do it. In the final part of this number there is a great mind-locked semi interview, which on its own is worth the hearing.

 

Unfortunately ‘Junkyard Blues’ suffers from being too introverted and needs concentration to stick with it as the band stray into playing more as individuals and the cohesion they have shown before is put under serious pressure. ‘Before Time Began’ falls into one of two categories: either a. trying to get a message across and being very boring, or b. a number that will make you look for the questions as well as the answers. There's something of ‘Fireball’ and ‘Machine Head’ in this album and for those unfamiliar with their earlier music it will act as an introduction and catalyst to work backwards, whilst anticipating what is still rolling around the collective mind of this band, like the thunder in the distance that announces the arrival of  an unavoidable downpour.