PURPENDICULAR

It was a very good event for the sake of music appreciators the exchange of guitar ace Ritchie Blackmore by the guitar master Steve Morse. It is not my objective to compare their qualities; but I do consider obvious that a band which was about to end could be reborn full of power and enthusiasm as a result of that interchange. Last efforts from Deep Purple MK2 (The Battle Rages On and House Of Blue Light pale in comparison with their golden era albuns; and Slaves&Masters MK5 may be considered purely dispensable. So, even the presence of a musician like Ritchie Blackmore was not allowing the band to record what is to be expected from a band like Deep Purple, and internal turmoil led them to a definitive rupture. So, the arrival of Mr. Morse got a lot of rejection from Blackmore´s fan base; which is easy to understand. But in my opinion the change was absolutely for good; and I point it out in the following reasons :

1 - Lack of creativity. Deep Purple was not able to produce a Fireball anymore (no masterpiece requested here); not even a Perfect Strangers. More and new compositional energy was requested !

2 - Mr Morse brought the missing creativity and allowed the band not to repeat an excellent album like "Fireball"; but to develop a brand new sound; a necessary upgrade in any first line band musical career.

Even the entrance of Tommy Bolin in 1975 didn´t brought such a consistent change in ther sound. Not that Mr. Bolin was a second rate guitar player (Tommy Bolin was also a guitar ace); the fact is that he didn´t have the time and the band was under influence of another musical giant called Glenn Hughes; the soul of Stormbringer and Come Taste the Band. But what exactly am I to say about this "new sound" to be found in Deep Purple MK6 e Deep Purple MK7 ? Let´s see :

1 - The compositions : there was nothing even close to "Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic" until that day. It was clear that Steve Morse was not about to substitute Ritchie Blackmore but to walk in his own heels. And it reflected immediately in their compositions

2 - The paper of rhythm section : Not until that moment bassist Roger Glover could occupy such a large space in their sound. It can be seen very clearly in "Loosen My Strings".

3 - Steve Morse is not a guitar player that sets his attention in playing a lot of notes as fast as possible. This is another reason that leaves more space for Roger Glover to give punch in their sound; and folks, I do like a lot this. The bass not only sets the rhythm; there are spaces for it to fill ang guarantee heavyness to their sound ! This new way of playing guitar which is clearly noticeable in a highlight as "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming" ! As once was told by bass master Ron Carter; whose saw fine art in controlling rhythm patterns with the smallest amount of notes he can figure out !

4 - Variation between recorded songs. We have the opening number. We have The Aviator, with its country approuch. Rosa Cantina and Loosen My Strings. Songs very diferent one from the others. It is opposes MK2 reality; the four albuns of the seventies (two of them masterpieces), did not have that amount of variation even among between them

As a conclusion, it is a solid 4 star rating. The first five songs indicates a masterpiece; but the second half I considered not as good. They were knowing each other as musicians; but a lot of good things was about to come. And I suggest you to not miss Blackmore; time changes, band changes, but for Deep Purple MK6 e MK7 4 and even 5 stars are perfectly possible. Do not act like myself that do not listen Dream Theater anymore after the leaving ok Mick Portnoy...