Deep Purple- SPLAT!

Arrogant Boy; Diablo; The Rider; The Lunatic; The Only Horse In Town; Sacred Land; The Beating of Wings; Guilt Trippin’; Scriblin’ Gib’rish; Jessica’s Bra; Third Call; My New Movie, Splat!
(Ear Music)

Deep Purple return with their 24th studio album and prove that they can still rock with the best. Rather than sounding like old dinosaurs, the songs here fly with melody, diversity and power.

This renaissance is down to having their regular producer Bob Ezrin at the helm with singer Ian Gillan, now aged eighty years old, sounding in form throughout; the rhythm section of Ian Paice and Roger Glover is as tight as ever, with guitarist Simon McBride adding some dexterity in his guitar solos and not forgetting the classically trained keyboard player Don Airey, who adds a classical touch to many of the tracks here – most notably on Guilt Trippin', which sounds like it initially comes with an influence from Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2.

The sound throughout the album is unmistakably Deep Purple, with the organ underpinning most tracks and Ian Gillan’s trademark sarcastic lyrics permeating the album.

Arrogant Boy starts off the album in an energetic fashion with the band sounding fresh and invigorating, harking back to earlier tracks such as Highway Star. The listener is propelled into an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement – that is amply rewarded on this fine return.

The influence of the blues is still there on tracks such as The Beating of Wings and Sciblin’ Gib’rish.

Overall the sound is diverse, from rock, Celtic, and blues to even a touch of progressive rock, with Deep Purple ultimately sounding in good health.