Deep Purple - Rapture Of The Deep (CD 2007)

So, here it is, the new Deep Purple album. Not much to get excited about really. Especially with the diabolical 'Bananas' fresh in my mind. The worst album ever put out by the band, worse even than 'The Battle Rages On'. Coupled with some decidedly below par live performances the last few times I'd seen them, the postman was spared the hugs and thank yous that embarrassed both of us in years gone by. But as a hardened music reviewer, it was on with the show. Duty called and I prepared myself to listen.

And what do you know? Opening track 'Money Talks' is an absolute cracker, an up tempo rocker with a memorable hook, some sparkling keyboards from Don Airey and a tasteful solo to boot. A good start. Shame it had to be followed by 'Girls Like That', a dreadful song which would have been shunned by Gillans solo band as 2nd rate, although more high marks go to Don Airey for a brave attempt to save it.

This album sees Deep Purple relegated to the realms of major minor Edel Records, home to David Hasselhoff and a website that doesn't acknowledge their existence (you have to go to the German site to track them down). A label that gets the tracklisting wrong on the album ad hires the worst promo writer in the world to write the press release. Quote; "This is the best Deep Purple album there is, dammit! Forget Machine Head.." Quote; "The whole transcends the sum of its parts, which is fitting for a record that seems to be, in a very real sense, about transcendence." What the hell!

But after the debacle of 'Bananas' this is a worthy album. It's not a classic in any sense. But returns them to the medium they belong in after the misguided pop dabblings on its predecessor. There are 4 songs that stand up to the legacy that Purple have created, maybe another 4 that are good Gillan songs, but don't really belong on a Purple album and a few fillers. It's not going to return them to the big time but their remaining fans will like it