New hard rock from the Smoke on the Water gang. Some things never change. With Deep Purple, a lacklustre album image and the promise of unwavering rock fundamentals are a guarantee. No problem for those stuck with this sound for decades but some bands never evolve. Does =1 give Deep Purple a chance to grow their noise? Yes. Do they take it? Sort of. The variations to their style and sound here are unexpected but not necessarily unique or all that world-beating. If anything, the band has turned away from the rock which formed them and towards alternative rock. It will send shivers down the spine of those ABandOn purists. Shivers of joy. There is a grunge feel to =1, a deeper feel to their sound which gives way to a surprise depth and interest. A blur of noise worth listening to.
Deep Purple is a band with such longevity that a carefree spirit can burst from their songs. This is the noise we should expect from bands who have played the field and toured the world for so long. Given how low the bar is for these older acts, there is a chance the simplistic joys of A Bit on the Side are shining that much brighter. Whatever the case, =1 is a solid piece from a band whose best-remembered songs are forty years removed from this. Quality guitar work which is never going to leave much of an impression but makes the most of the time it has – before the first cup of coffee of the day, but after the sun is up. This is the sweet spot for listening to Deep Purple albums. =1 in particular. It has a real joy flowing through it, a band sounding thankful to still be churning out work, and if it is of this quality, long may it continue.
This is not just a series of instrumentals with forgettable lyrical features. Ian Gillan has a strong voice, a consistent effort to display the lyrical joys of the album, and it is the vocal range which settles in as more impressive than anything, particularly for If I Were You. Shifty eyes and the sense of betrayal make for an opportune and intense I’m Saying Nothin’ performance, one of the many to rely on the suggestive lyrical tone and the consistent, rising guitar work found throughout. It rises and rises, never quite reaching a location of interest but at least it is moving on, whirring away and desperate to get somewhere. The location is not important but the journey the band is trying to cobble together on =1 is understated.
Though it is only drummer Ian Paice left from the original lineup, it is hard to disagree with the consistency of Deep Purple now. It is better than Yes, who have no founding members and no grasp of the sound which made the band so spectacular. Deep Purple is evolving at the behest of new minds with a link to the past. This is the difference setting =1 apart from bands with a long-running name but new members. Deep Purple has the benefit of still feeling as it did in the supposed heyday, with an evolved sound and a fine balance between nostalgic charm and contemporary necessity. It is a rare blur and a welcome one at that. Nothing too spectacular, but an album from a seasoned rock group which is listenable rather than a period of in-fighting and contractual obligations is a treat these days.
