Deep Purple'e new studio album is scheduled for release on October 21st 2005 on Edel Records. In the intervening time look out for an exclusive competition for DPAS members to win a limited tin box edition of the album, and also, stay tuned for audio clips in the near future.

Courtesy of Edel Records, here is a track by track run through the songs:

1/ On `Money Talks` an unusual introduction leads directly into the archetypal DEEP PURPLE organ-sound. Ian Gillan's vocals are much in the same vein as`Seventh Heaven` from the `Abandon`.

2/ `Girls Like That` harks back to the likes of `Rat Bat Blue`, but also sounds like a lost diamond from the `Perfect Strangers` era.

3/ `Wrong Man` is a hard rocking song that would come across extremely well in a live setting.

4/ With its changing tempos `Rapture of the Deep` could remind listeners of the construction of `Lazy`.

5/ `Clearly Quite Absurd` contains guitar work with a similar feel to `Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming`. There are also parallels to `Haunted` in the vocal lines.

6/ `Don't Let Go` is perhaps the most impressive track on the album. It is not only a guitar masterpiece but also a phenomenal composition.

7/ `Back To Back` is similar in style to `Silver Tongue`.

8/ `Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye` brings to mind early Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice Mark II-material.

9/ `Junkyard Blues` is a powerful song, and everybody will be carried away by the guitar and the piano playing that swings from honky-tonk to jazz.

10/ `Before Time Began` is a thoughtful track with an elegiac feel to it. Outstanding performances from the band support the words superbly.

As a whole the album keeps up good traditions but also ushers in a new era for the band and their fans. (The tracks `MTV` and `Things I Never Said` were not available to review.)

Edel / Jörg Schulz

The track listing for the regular edition as listed by Edel is: 1/ Money Talks, 5:32, 2/ Wrong Man, 4:52, 3/ Girls Like That, 4:00, 4/ Rapture Of The Deep, 5:56, 5/ Clearly Quite Absurd, 6:25, 6/ Don't Let Go, 4:32, 7/ Back To Back, 4:02, 8/ Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, 4:17, 9/ Junkyard Blues, 5:30, 10/ Before Time Began, 6:39.

A European limited edition version gains extra track 'MTV': 1/ Money Talks, 5:32, 2/ Wrong Man, 4:52, 3/ Girls Like That, 4:00, 4/ Rapture Of The Deep, 5:56, 5/ Clearly Quite Absurd, 6:25, 6/ Don't Let Go, 4:32, 7/ Back To Back, 4:02, 8/ Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, 4:17, 9/ MTV, 4:54, 10/ Junkyard Blues, 5:30, 11/ Before Time Began, 6:39.

The 'Rapture Of The Deep' World Tour is due to start in Germany, January 2006.

mk8 news