Whoosh!

[Zzzptm]

Charger loves it, Jack is nonplussed, where do YOU fit in on this album?

I just listened to the opening track, very much in love with it. I'll be doing more of it later on today and tomorrow, as I get time.

[Zzzptm]

Second track, "We're All the Same in the Dark" is an interesting blend, with some funk bends to go with a very lyrical tune. Reminds me of Ian Gillan solo meets Roger Glover solo, with some heavy stuff added from Paice.

"Nothing at All" has some very pretty organ/guitar interplay in what is decidedly a lighter-tinged song, like "The Aviator" from Purpendicular. It's almost a drinking song with its side-to-side rhythm. I enjoy it, but I can see where it would elude others. It does show that, since hitching their wagon to Steve Morse, the band has lightened up in its sound over the years, allowing more progressive elements and not feeling obligated to make the next "Space Truckin'".

"No Need to Shout" has an opening organ stab that reminds me of "Perfect Strangers", but the guitar line dispels that illusion and... why am I now thinking of "Woman From Tokyo"? Ah yes, it's the piano part. And that's a good comparison, as Gillan wanted to do more songs like "Our Lady" that didn't necessarily have solo instrumental sections. They could have them, but they had to be songs, first and foremost. One can really hear that split on The House of Blue Light, with Blackmore dominating on side one and Gillan's influence most felt on the intricate side two numbers. Here, it's all side two.

"Step By Step" just helps to prove my previous point. I think the rest of the band agree with him, so they keep doing songs that way. And I have to say that Don Airey really turns in a great job on this album so far, providing not only added texture for the songs, but a proper foil for Morse's soloing.

"What the What" leaves nothing to the imagination with its aggressive intro. How can a guy 70 years old sing this song so well? This is a kid's song, but the old bastard is really going at it and showing us how it's done. Well done, Big Ian! Morse reaches back to the Dixie Dregs for his solo inspiration, putting  a nice Southern flourish on this rocking little tune.

"The Long Way Round" really intrigues me with its urgent rhythm - I'm totally drawn in by now, even though I realize the Amazon version of the MP3 album doesn't include "Throw My Bones." What's up with that?

[Zzzptm]

I've got to get back to work, but I'll let it play as I do so. Overall, this has been a great album thus far.

EDIT: The whole thing's awesome. I'm buying it for sure. My first impression is that it's perhaps their best since Purpendicular.

[Charger]

I've listened it three times now...and I have to say it is a very very complex album. Probably their most complex album ever. Which is saying something.

Also it is pretty remarkable that they've managed to make so epic sounding songs that just last around 4 or 5 minutes...some even less! Not many bands can do that.

I do have one issue with it though...Steve Morse isn't in the forefront enough. This is very Don Airey led album. His keyboards are very prominent in almost all the songs. It's not a bad thing obviously as he is probably THE greatest keyboard player alive right now but I do wish there would be more guitar driven tracks.
I do love in the middle sections of most songs though as there is quite a bit of back and forth between Steve and Don...especially on Man Alive which might be my favourite...

So far I don't think there's a single bad song on it though...but there isn't one really stellar one either...No Vincent Price or Watching The Sky or Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming on this one...but I think this is a grower not a shower as it is THAT complex and progressive.

I have to say Gillan saying they've put the DEEP back into the Purple is quite accurate. This is a very Deep album.

Also it has received some raving reviews from all around...Classic Rock calling it the album of the month, Blabbermouth giving it a 9 and so on...

[Zzzptm]

It's definitely a deep listen, the whole thing really comes well together in some unexpected ways. I wouldn't call it a concept album, but it all seems to fit together musically like one.

[Vyn]

Forum effect going to make me have to buy this.

[Jack the Stripper]

The biggest problem I have with it is that the production is very lightweight and too many songs just bop along with a tap your feet type shuffle feel with Ian Gillan resorting to singing like an old crooner. He seems to have little to no range or character in his voice these days.

I actually found some songs build the mood and tension rather nicely which you then expect to launch into a heavier driving feel but instead they resort back to this funky bluesy shuffle thing with Don Airey overpowering everything doing his best Jon Lord impersonation. Meanwhile Morse’s guitar is just buried away in the background when it should be more at the forefront of the sound. That’s how I feel anyway.

Just on Morse, while he is a talented soloist I’ve always found his riffs very stock and repetitive and just not memorable or heavy enough and there’s nothing on this album that really seems to drive it along. The instrumental was actually my favourite song but it happens way to late in the piece. Man Alive is another good song which is an example I talked about of building a mood and then perfectly going into a heavier driving thing.

The first time I listened to Whoosh! unbeknownst to me I had it on shuffle and strangely it was kinda working for me. But when I put it on again in track sequence it just didn’t happen for me and mostly just laboured through before picking up towards the end.

Look, it’s not terrible music or anything, it’s quite progressive and ambitious in places and there’s a definite talent to what they’re doing but as Ive previously stated, it’s the type of music that probably reflects their age which isn’t a bad thing for them to be doing but its the type of music that just doesn’t excite me or get my juices flowing in any way. It actually made me only wanna reach for Fireball and give it a spin, which I happily did 

[Zzzptm]

Vyn: I looked it up on the YouTube and listened to the full album playlist before buying. But I do plan to buy.

JtS: Honestly, I agree with you up to the final call on whether or not this kind of stuff lights the candle or not. The Morse era has definitely been one where the band has gone off in a number of experimental directions and I am the first to confess that not all of them have worked out for me, either - though I plan to go back through all the records again in the near future to see how time treats them, for better or worse.

***

Doing my second listen and it's like a "find everything in the picture" puzzle. I heard a snatch of Gershwin, Gillan reference "Trashed", something that sounded like a Guess Who tribute, 70s prog, 80s post-prog, and even more subtlety than I previously caught. Is that a sound of a rusty swing I heard towards the end of "Man Alive"? And there are loads of notes being played in some of these songs that I'll have to take a lot of time to unpack. And then there's the disco influence on the last track. Sure, the title is "Dancing in My Sleep", but I did NOT expect DP to reach back for the funk and across the musical isle for a touch of house.

But do I like that? Yes. Yes, I do. Will everyone like it? I would imagine not, and that's all right.

[Charger]

The Long Way Round is great...just picked up the Trashed reference...didn't notice it before!

Purple is not your average straight forward "in your face" hard rock anymore...they haven't been that in a long time. They grew into something much more with Steve...and even more so with Don.

But I can also understand that this more complex and progressive style isn't for everyone. Heck not all of it is for me either...Rapture Of The Deep was a bit of a miss..

I do have to say though that if this album would need something it would be one fast rocker...something like Ted The Mechanic or Any Fule Kno That.

[Zzzptm]

^ I agree. "What the What" almost scratches that fast rocker itch, and then it does a few funny little things that take it out of that category. Gotta think while you listen to this album, can't just throw it on and bang your head and do other stuff.

Overkill is a perfect example of a monumental album that doesn't demand a lot of thought on the part of the listener. The instructions are simple: 1. Prepare the music for playing on turntable, CD player, or MP3 player. 2. Press "play". 3. Rock out. Repeat as necessary. Whoosh!, however, gets complicated after step 2...

[Zzzptm]

Good thing I found the YouTube links, as well, since Amazon doesn't seem to want to sell this in MP3 format. Also, the US edition does not come with "Throw My Bones".

[Tyr66]

I must say that I 've been back in the Purple Marchine since "Now What ?!" album that I had really appreciated with these masterpieces which are "A simple song", "HellTo Pay", "Uncommon Man" and "Vincent Price" among others.
Same fun with "Infinite". "Time for Bedlam", "All I Got Is You", "Johnny's Band" and my favorite the fantastic "Birds of Prey".
With "Whoosh!" nothing of that . First, Gillan's voice is doubled or even tripled way too much. Tiring. Morse is too diluted in the mix to make (too much) place for Don Airey. I appreciate the musician but here it becomes execrable . It is too prominent for some bad interventions like this terrible sounding solo on "The Long Way Round".
No spark comes to raise the overall level.
This new album is unexpectedly boring.
Too bad really.

[Vyn]

Vyn: I looked it up on the YouTube and listened to the full album playlist before buying. But I do plan to buy.

Thanks, I'll check that out. An interesting spread of opinion regarding Whoosh! has developed in this thread. Forum effect in decline lol.

[Zzzptm]

Vyn: I looked it up on the YouTube and listened to the full album playlist before buying. But I do plan to buy.

Thanks, I'll check that out. An interesting spread of opinion regarding Whoosh! has developed in this thread. Forum effect in decline lol.

Remember that Charger and I both liked Mel C's solo work.

[Jack the Stripper]

Remember that Charger and I both liked Mel C's solo work.

You two have no right to criticise any other music again...