MACHINE HEAD

The question will surely rage for a long time to come, where Deep Purple prog? I'm not going to get involved in that argument now, instead I'm going to give my four stars for what is surely one of the classic albums to come from the early 70s. The classic Mk II line up plays a blinder here.

It kicks off with the staple Highway Star, loud fast and a display of some top level playing from messrs Blackmore and Lord. A classic opener. Then comes the probable weakest number, Maybe I'm a Leo, I always found this a bit oddly paced and dull. Nonetheless still a good track but lacking anything too memorable. Pictures of Home follows, returning to the mood set by Highway Star with a rapid drum intro and awhat follows blistering solos by the entire band. (I always loved the rising bass provided by Roger Glover on this song!) Never Before provides little too exciting. It is folowed of course by Smoke on The Water, the curse of guitar shops the world over, mind you in Purple's hands it is a deserved classic. It was never my favourite on the album, it actually precludes what I feel is the albums strongest track, Lazy starting with the ultra distorted organ of Jon Lord before leading into a first class, high paced bluesy extended intro. Blackmore again here gets full marks. The album ends with Space Truckin', a great riff and raw energy make this a fine ending note, and indeed the band goes out with a bang.

This is a brilliant album, surely Purp's finest, it displays constant reminders of Blackmore and Lord's brilliance and has classic songs which surely put Deep Purple as one of the leading bands in the prog/hard rock genre.