Iconic Rockers Deep Purple Stay Vital With "Whoosh!"

Call Deep Purple legendary, classic and iconic and you'd most definitely be hitting the mark. But don't dare try to label them a nostalgia act. As evidenced on its outstanding new album, "Whoosh!" Deep Purple kicks off the new decade as a continuing vital entity with its refreshing, muscular, unique brand of hard rock.

With "Whoosh!" Purple is locked in from the start. Album opener "Throw My Bones" spotlights everything that elevates this band as a rock-and-roll treasure. Singer Ian Gillan is in fine form with his instantly recognizable, upbeat vocals and unique vocal phrasing of his clever lyrics, while drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover are a pulsating, airtight rhythm section.

Then there's guitarist Steve Morse’s groove-laden riffs and keyboardist Don Airey's flourishes that serve as a counterpoint to Morse's progressions. It's as if Airey almost serves as a second guitarist in the band. Morse and Airey's interplay and bright, dual melodies and solos throughout the collection are key to Deep Purple's singular sound. Sonically, "Whoosh!" is clean and crisp, a product of the band working with renowned producer Bob Ezrin.

"Whoosh!" highlights include "Drop the Weapon," Gillan's take on the absence of peace and love in today's society that is buoyed by a huge organ riff courtesy of Airy. The latter's organ also drives "We're All the Same In the Dark." Jon Lord is surely smiling down, and rocking out, from the heavens.

The band also fires on all cylinders on the reflective "Nothing At All," which features a beautiful guitar melody intro from Morse. A winding Morse riff introduces "No Need to Shout" while the tongue-in-cheek titled "What the What" is a barnburner in which Gillan humorously relays the unintended consequences of a wild night on the town.

There's an aura of mystery to "Power of the Moon" and a galloping, driving rhythm powers "The Long Way Round" and "Man Alive." There are two instrumentals, "Remission Possible" and "And the Address," the latter a dynamic jam that sees "Whoosh!" finish with a bounce to its step.

The first thing you'll want to do after listening to "Whoosh!" is hit play again. This is a wonderful album and one of the best of 2020.