Calgary Herald Oct. 3/96
(circ. about 110,000=20 weekdays, 125,000 Saturday).:

Deep Purple: Purpendicular (BMG).
Since reuniting 10 years ago this classic British metal band has foisted a lot of listless, uncreative slop on it's fans. But with Ritchie Blackmore out and ex-Kansas guitarist Steve Morse in, that's finally changed. Purpendicular is inspired in every way, from performance (it finally sounds as if the band is interested in playing together) to arrangements (yes, lotsa bombast but plenty of interesting new approaches) to songwriting (how about titles like Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic and A Castle Full of Rascals?), and even album graphics. Purple hasn't sounded this good since the 1970s.

Rating: 5 out of five

Frank King

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