DEEP PURPLE =1 (2024) *HQ*

DEEP PURPLE, one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time, will release a new album, “=1“, on July 19 via earMUSIC.
DEEP PURPLE continues its charge of recent years, releasing hit albums and filling arenas around the world, adding yet more layers to its 100-million-album-selling legacy. The band is credited as one of the key originators of heavy rock and has constantly progressed its boundaries of music.
They are fronted by the legendary Ian Gillan, whose vocals have defined generations, accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, and the maestro on keyboards Don Airey.
“=1” is the band’s first album with sensational guitarist Simon McBride, who seamlessly slotted in when longtime member Steve Morse left due to personal circumstances. Since 2022, Simon has already played to DEEP PURPLE audiences totalling more than half a million people.
But DEEP PURPLE is more than just their members and “=1” embodies the essence and attitude of their 1970s incarnation possibly more than any other album in recent memory. With the legendary Bob Ezrin once again producing, the record evokes the pioneering band’s classic sound, without relying on nostalgia.

The enigmatic title “=1” symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris and Berlin in recent days.

With three consecutive No. 1 albums in their back pocket and a resurgent new energy powering them forward, this is DEEP PURPLE at their pinnacle. “Now WHAT?!” (2013),”inFinite” (2017) and “Whoosh!” (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making DEEP PURPLE one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, “Whoosh!”, reached No. 1 on the album charts in seven countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.

The enigmatic title “=1” symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris and Berlin in recent days.

With three consecutive No. 1 albums in their back pocket and a resurgent new energy powering them forward, this is DEEP PURPLE at their pinnacle. “Now WHAT?!” (2013),”inFinite” (2017) and “Whoosh!” (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making DEEP PURPLE one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, “Whoosh!”, reached No. 1 on the album charts in seven countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.

It does it matter if Deep Purple release a new album? They’ll tour, and arenas will fill. The answer is in opening track “Show Me” – DP still has something to say, and stay relevant. You stay relevant by adapting. It’s not “Burn,” but neither is it so achingly hip as to try too hard. That’s even more true on the brilliant “Bit On The Side.” Not only does relative newcomer Simon McBride absolutely slay the lead work, but the Deep Purple sound is present and correct. That way, they mix organ and keyboard better than any other band.

And that is on the strutting “Sharp Shooter” too. It’s a wonderful thing, a sight to behold, and okay, so Ian Gillan can’t sing the same as he did, but the new style suits him. The soul is dialled up, and they find a classic sound on “Portable Door.” The lyrics are never less than clever throughout, but especially here. And as both McBride and keyboard man Don Airey enjoy themselves here, you can justifiably reflect that ” = 1″ sounds like a fun record to make.

“Old Fangled Thing” crackles with energy, rolling back the years and sounding funky, and if “If I Were You” slows the pace down a touch, then there’s class written through it still. The singles they put out before this rather hinted at what was to come. “Pictures Of You” offers melody and hooks, and there’s a touch of the epic too.
“I’m Saying Nothin’” grooves, and shines a light on the fact that nothing here dips. “Lazy Sod” seems to be Deep Purple very deliberately rolling back the years, and Airey (who is in stunning form throughout this) is right in the spotlight here and relishing it.

If everywhere you look, there’s a highlight, then “Now You’re Talking” is still a highlight. There’s only one band that could have made this song (and consequently this album). Paice and Glover anchor this down, but it’s noticeable that there’s so much room in the songs to allow everyone to express themselves.
There’s a little of Mark Knopfler on the ballad, “I’ll Catch You,” and if it ends with “Bleeding Obvious”—the longest thing here—then it’s also one of the most intricate. There are hints of prog, but by the time the chorus hits, it’s a very British thing, and moreover, it’s a very Deep Purple thing.

But it’s not a band living on past glories. It’s Deep Purple 2024, not 1968 or even 2020 when “Whoosh!” came out. Rather, it’s this Darwinian idea of evolution that colours this. You change, you adapt, and things come and go – but the best and strongest survive.
“=1” when you add it all up comes to the best Deep Purple album in a very long time.
Highly Recommended

01 – Show Me
02 – A Bit On The Side
03 – Sharp Shooter
04 – Portable Door
05 – Old-Fangled Thing
06 – If I Were You
07 – Pictures Of You
08 – I’m Saying Nothin’
09 – Lazy Sod
10 – Now You’re Talkin’
11 – No Money To Burn
12 – I’ll Catch You
13 – Bleeding Obvious

Ian Gillan
Roger Glover
Ian Paice
Don Airey
Simon McBride

Pre order:
www.amazon.co.uk/1-Deep-Purple/dp/B0D2JNQMVX