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I get it now!
Simon Zyla (Wieliczka, Poland) sends us this review of =1
Steve Morse is on this album
I’ll make no secret of the fact that I’m ‘Steve’s baby’ and a fan – all my Deep Purple listening for over 30 years has been Morse on guitar. So I will always look for his distinctive sound in new recordings. His ‘Music Man’ and his guitar effects and unique techniques.
And I was surprised to find that…. you can hear Steve’s sounds a few times on ‘=1’. There are moments where Simon plays like Steve. Then I’m as happy as a child! Maybe these songs could be played together on stage one day – that’s my dream…. Certainly more realistic than playing Deep Purple with the “man in black”, hehe
By the way, I’ve discovered that listening to ‘=1’ I’m starting to perceive DP’s albums with Morse differently. There was so much talk about Steva always playing the same thing – the same repetitive solos. It’s only now, when I hear a different guitarist on a Deep Purple album, that I appreciate how varied Morse played.
No – I’m not belittling McBride’s abilities! The “plucked man” (that’s his hair, hehe) can also play like Blackmore on this album. Even that RB from Rainbow! Look it up, but it’s easy… He’s great, he’s not a guitar genius (like 3 of his predecessors), but he found his way into this music very well!
Well, and thanks to him, I understand you now! All of you who couldn’t get over the fact that Ritchie wasn’t in Deep Purple (still can’t, hehe). Just like I listen to my band without Morse now. It’s such a salty-bitter listening experience, different in perception…. I have to learn it, I have to accept it.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Do you remember that Gillan recording “My Heart Remains The Same” with that Greek guy (Michael Rakintzis)? There are two ballads on the “=1” album, seemingly cool, but somehow to me they “don’t spark” (and that’s the most important thing in a good ballad). When I listened to them I was immediately reminded of that Rakintzis from 1992. There it was everything Ian Gillan needed to show his vocal genius.
I know he’s not that young anymore, that his voice has already worn out, but he hasn’t always been able to do that so far. I’ve already written about it in the comments IG needs a brilliant guitarist to ‘fire up’ and go into those wonderful areas of his (not necessarily ‘high’, just ‘other’ – the amazing ones) as a result of the friction (as in ‘Strange Kind of Woman’ from Japan).
On ‘=1’ we got the kind of at times heavily rock’n’roll Gillan from the Javelins days. Yes – we were also missing such a dynamic big Ian. But at times it’s sadly weak – these are the moments that we’re being pushed onto records nowadays, which in the past (in the days of vinyl) would have ended up on the B-sides of a single. I really dislike this release policy, because it makes us out of great albums into mediocre ones (=1 also suffers from this). Fortunately we have a way around this – you can make yourself a different playlist in your CD/streaming player. 😉
Well, I thought I wouldn’t find it…. However, there is one moment from IG that sends shivers down my spine. At one point we are taken back in time to 1970. We hear his young voice again! The voice from the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Wonderful…
Remaster?
This album has a strange sound. It’s been ‘rearranged’, ‘twisted’, or perhaps made too ‘harsh’ or ‘prickly’. It’s completely different from the last albums. Bob’s so-called ‘trilogy’ was structured, sonically balanced, with each of these albums having depth and a certain majesty of its own. Here, unfortunately, I find it difficult to listen to, especially the weaker moments on the album.
Of course, there are exceptions – this is, by the way, the umpteenth time in a row that we get a very energetic, rhythmic and ‘bass’ track at almost the same point in the album, and it’s absolutely amazing! I suppose this is down to Roger, who is just incredible. I love that moment on ‘=1’!
I have a feeling there are more hidden sounds, melodies and details in there that I’ll discover over time. I don’t know if I’m right, but I think the sound engineers have spoiled this album for them. It’s a shame – I can’t believe that Purple played these tracks so ‘flat’ in the studio. I don’t think so…
So a ‘remaster’ is immediately required (I know, sic! ;-)), with a rearranged order of some tracks, and certainly one that starts at the wrong time and hurts. Ouch… Maybe the vinyl version won’t have this flaw, I’ll have to check it out!
On the occasion of the vinyl version – perhaps then this album will sound better, more ‘fat’? We’ll see…
Perhaps the ‘rough’ sound is partly due to the different charter of these recordings – here we have a new energy, a different pace. My namesake Simon wreaks a bit of havoc on the album. The tempo is completely different.
The word ”different” is very important in the context of this album. Because I’m trying not to compare it to other albums by the band. It is simply a record of that time and the form the band was in. For me, the concerts have not been such a ‘record of the time’ for a long time, unfortunately. They are played to cater for the ‘music tourists’ expecting ‘Smoke’ and the rest from Machine Head. Not for the fans – that’s sad. Well, that’s how the factory works…
And for the fans (i.e. us!) these records are recorded in the studio and for that I wanted to thank Deep Purple that you still do it!
Short summary
‘=1’ will probably be a controversial album for fans – probably something like ‘Come Taste the Band’. Some will love it and others will say it’s weak. I don’t know yet – I need to get some distance from these recordings again, because I’ve listened to them too much. Let these recordings burn out, win out (child) ‘in time’. And we’ll see.
Simon Zyla (Wieliczka, Poland)
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
I really like the album, but agree with remarks by some people regarding the mix.
Drums sound “mono” and snare/cymbals pretty harsh at times. I’ve A/B listened to the other Ezrin productions and find this the weakest and “small” sounding. Much like Rapture of the deep which someone mentioned, my least favorite Purple album soundwise. Bass almost too loud and clanky on some tracks, too low or muddy on others, and vocals/solos sometimes very loud which makes the track sound small and loose energy. Also at times not a very pleasant vocal sound. It’s inconsistent. Sounds like a roughmix. A remaster won’t fix any of this.
The most important thing though: the Music is great, I really like what they’ve come up with and enjoy hearing it, I think it’s in line with the path they’ve been on these last years, with some more rock n’ roll spirit to it, but just think that it deserved a better mix. I can imagine how the tracks will sound live though, and hope they include a few more tracks in the live set going forward so we can enjoy the songs as I think they imagined them whilst writing/recording.
I think they all perform really well and Simon is a great fit for the band. Hoping for more new music if they feel like it.
July 22nd, 2024 at 19:24Just my 2 cents.
“Bass almost too loud and clanky on some tracks …”
Uhum! In that case I’ll switch to geetar!
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?attachments/glover-room-57-jpg.1278343/
July 22nd, 2024 at 20:41nice review Simon!….you also wrote some very true things: that Steve is still present in the album, I believe not only in the guitar sounds, but also in the way of writing music that Purple got used to doing with Morse for 30 years!!!….it will take another album to make Steve’s influences disappear, or who knows, they will never disappear if Fab 4 have deeply introjected the Purple/Morse style.
I also really liked your words about live shows, which are now for “music tourists” who always want to hear the same old songs
July 22nd, 2024 at 22:46Good review. I’m mostly glad they’re still going and that the changes have been amicable. Too bad Glenn had to bring up the R&RHoF issue again. I’ll pass on seeing his tour a second time and will happily travel to see this show, instead.
July 22nd, 2024 at 23:43Yo,
Most excellent to know that Steve has well deserved fans out there, as he not only earned this respect, he deserves it !!! – ( Unlike other person(s) that have played in the band )…
My only cause for concern is the suggested lack-of-faith in ability of Simon…I have no-doubt he’ll really put-it-out there on the next album, or perhaps in the live arena. I’ve heard him play musical lines on his guitar that I’ve never heard before, so there’s much more to look forward to, especially since he’s new to the band & the way it does its business on stage, though show-time is getting shorter now-days…
Steve’s solos were a little formulated in that you knew what to expect section-for-section, but the same could be said of any great innovative player, eg, Wes Montgomery, John Scofield, & Robben Ford to name a few…
Good review imo ! And the proof to Simon’s musical gift in the link attached below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HasyyqAHCTk
Peace !
July 23rd, 2024 at 00:58Thanks primarily to Simon this album is heavier and riffier than they’ve been since the 70s. That is why I like it so much. But I get it that fans of the Morse era would not prefer that. I remember reading an interview of Steve saying that he thought that Simon was a better fit in DP than he was. At the time I thought that he was just being gracious. But now I think that he new that Simon would steer the band in a heavier riffier direction.
July 23rd, 2024 at 02:10@MK44
> A remaster won’t fix any of this.
Ok, probably you are right. So I suggest Zappa remix. 🙂
July 23rd, 2024 at 07:00I aggree and not liked the mixing.And it sounds too compressed, there is not enough air between the instruments.
July 23rd, 2024 at 07:12Yo,
Simon said…
qt.”=1’ will probably be a controversial album for fans – probably something like ‘Come Taste the Band’. Some will love it and others will say it’s weak. I don’t know yet – I need to get some distance from these recordings again, because I’ve listened to them too much. Let these recordings burn out, win out (child) ‘in time’. And we’ll see”…
***
Yo,
I just received my copy in the post, & have listened to it twice, once through the computer & Logitech 2.1’s, & once through the Yamaha 5.1 system, & it sounded really good through both.
I’m impressed & I’ll simply give it 11/10, as that’s what the boys gave us, 110% or more. I knew it would be a good album for sure, but this is a great one !
And just like “Come Taste the Band” it has a great feel & momentum throughout that makes it stand-out as a yard-stick, that’s perfect for the time.
Very well done everyone concerned, a remarkable & superb effort for sure.
Peace !
July 23rd, 2024 at 08:57What IS the track that the reviewer got taken back to 1970 from!!! Thanks for talking about spine shivers etc, but at least state the occasion for @&$) sake! Lol
July 23rd, 2024 at 09:11After 28 years Deep purple are on the right track.Fantastic album with 13 amazing songs .It doesn’t matter if you play a million notes in a second with your head upside down.Deep purple were and are a whole band with harmony.You can listen to the songs as whole song ,vocals , guitar. bass and of course drums separately.I’ve bought abandon and bananas just because of deep purple name.I haven’t listened to them for years.But I’m still listening to mark I,II,III(Tommy Bolin) and even slave and masters.
July 23rd, 2024 at 09:57Old fangeld thing is my thing.
July 23rd, 2024 at 15:08@korhan olcer
> there is not enough air between the instruments.
100% I’m still looking for the right words to describe what’s broken there, thx!
July 23rd, 2024 at 16:21@Jason
> What IS the track that the reviewer got taken back to 1970
This is a couple of tracks in one, i.e. Bleeding Obvious, where from 3:10 we have a “young Ian”, I love it!
July 23rd, 2024 at 16:26@ 9
July 23rd, 2024 at 18:30Ciao Gregster!
It is true! to summarize the new album just put a vote with a noninator higher than the denominator, because this is worth the album! a bomb!💣
What an excellent review.
Hopefully the gentlemen in the Japanese lab coats will come up with an awesome mastering job. Hehe
It’s a strong album, but personally I am having some Steve Morse withdrawals. No matter how strong this album is.
July 23rd, 2024 at 19:11I really felt like he was going to be there to the end.
Simon remarks that the Ezrin Trilogy albums had “a certain majesty.” Well, that’s just it. Majesty is certainly what I want from Purple, not to say pomp and bombast, at least some of the time. But while some of the trilogy songs clearly aspired to be majestic, e.g., Man Alive and Time for Bedlam, they didn’t quite make it, in my view. The main riff in Man Alive, which could have been a monster, just sounds too refined, and Time for Bedlam has the tingly introduction and Gillan speaking, which just doesn’t work. I had hoped for a rollicking version of Man Alive in the live set that departs from the album, but I’m not aware of their having done one.
I love the new album: to my ears, it has the brash energy of the younger band–and indeed of rock.
Regarding Steve’s solos, yes, there are certainly some great ones, but there’s often a certain restraint to his playing (some may regard it as just good taste!) which I enjoy less.
July 23rd, 2024 at 23:14And see ‘Man Alive’ is on the album right next to ‘And the Address’. 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq6hvygIebY
I have no idea why Bob/Ian didn’t make this song a “monster”, but “And the Address” reminded me of the early albums and how Deep Purple was always like that – “different”. Hard-rocking and ‘majestic’. Going with Jon in the direction of classical music….
That way we don’t have all the albums in one hard rock fashion (like most bands, poor fans… ;-)) and there is plenty to listen to!
Greetings
July 24th, 2024 at 08:34You are right Simon. Every line up of DP had something to offer. No 2 albums sound the same!! What other band could have released 2 excellent and different albums back to back, Concerto for Group and Orchestra and In Rock!! From Shades to Come Taste the Band, Perfect Strangers to = 1 (an album I don’t like at all but many people do), they, to me, are the best Rock band of all time!!
July 24th, 2024 at 11:40@ 18 – I listened to Man Alive after viewing that wonderful clip of Steve Morse demonstrating his guitar parts, thanks for that. It is a very atmospheric song indeed. It isn’t meant to rock hard at all. A nice restrained solo from Steve Morse & also his wonderful textures & colouring has always been one of many reasons I have purchased his music for decades. Plenty of colours in that palette & Morse is a master of diversity. There are also a couple of other ‘rock’ guitarists that do that very well. Cheers.
July 24th, 2024 at 13:12@Fla76
> live shows, which are now for “music tourists” who always want to hear the same old songs
It’s a bit of a taboo subject – without it, the whole business would probably collapse. So they probably have this order from the tour/band managers that this is the only way then these gigs will sell well and people will come back again to sing “Smoke” again. I don’t think they wouldn’t want to play 3/4 of the new album and end the show with “Bleeding Obvious”, for example. And in the second part set, there are never new songs… By the way, this can also cause tension between the band members as well. But that’s another story… Surely Simon hasn’t played “Smoke” 100 times yet? Or has he already scored? 😉
July 24th, 2024 at 13:21Back to Man Alive. My complaint isn’t that it doesn’t rock hard but that it fails to achieve majesty or grandeur at points where that was, I think, the desired effect. Yes, the song is often atmospheric, and that’s all part of the Purple magic, but I think they were going for the effect in Fools when the riff comes in (though perhaps that’s a little too much).
The Morse solo on Man Alive is indeed excellent and, in its context, the best bit. But even his perfunctory playing of the riff in the charming tutorial has more spirit than what we get on the album. It may just be that the guitar is too low in the mix.
July 26th, 2024 at 02:00Yep, it’s certainly a good album, but I agree with a lot of others that the album sounds out of balance.
July 26th, 2024 at 17:51If I listen to Whoosh!, that’s an album with a heavy consistent sound! This one has no balance between the guitar and the keyboards, an awfull drumsound and on top of that it has an extremely heavely-over-the-top mastering, which causes some serious distortion in the overall sound. What where they thinking ….(or not hearing ….). Well that’s really a pity and the album deserves much better. But hey, just my 2 cents here …