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Bananas
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Reviews of Bananas Interviews New album stuff Related sites Imaginary reviews |
Paicetastic!I've got something to say today! Congratulations for a nice new album and an amazing integration
of yet another musician in Don Airey. Most of all I want to say “marvellous job” to Ian Gillan. What I had thought I'd hear the last time I saw DP in concert (February 1999 in Aalen, Germany) but failed to find proof of on any live recordings I've listened to since then has finally come true: His voice is completely back in the shape of the early 70s - that is as completely as this is possible with such an old yeller ; -). I would not say he sang any better on "Who Do We Think We Are" or "Machine Head". His lyrics have always been light years ahead of the standard rock poetry, but it's been a while since I last heard such good choruses and vocal lines from him. The production is also fine – vocal backings are where the songs need them and not to conceal weak points in the performance (as I always suspected to have happened on e.g. "The Battle Rages On"). “Bananas” is good - a very homogeneous record. I'd like to compare it with Who Do We Think We Are". It may sound more American (House of Pain, Haunted, Walk On, Razzle Dazzle) than the preceding records, it may lack the groundbreaking freedom and progressivity of “Fireball” or “Purpendicular”, but it is definitely full of good tunes and it definitely rocks! It is surprisingly free from fillers, complete turn-offs and annoying could-be-great-songs which were to be found even on highly acclaimed releases from the past (or would you call “Nobody's Home” a milestone?). I myself might have done without “Haunted” and “Walk On” but they are no doubt well written and performed songs. "Bananas" is a killer, "Never a Word" is wonderful and "Picture Of Innocence" grows with the time. My favourites are “Sun goes down”, “Doing it Tonight” and “Silver Tongue” - they kick ass, they groove and they are up to date and are classic Purple at the same time. The only song I don't know what to say about is “I Got Your Number”. The instrumental section is absolutely superb. But the rest of the song sounds like – well, like written around an original instrumental. It is music in a roundabout (no allusion!) way, vocals and guitar seem to push into different directions and it just doesn't work with me. If I could have a wish for the live concerts then I'd want to hear the instrumental section of “I Got Your Number “ included in “Silver Tongue”. It could easily be added to the solo part – the break has even got the same rhythm as “Silver Tongue”! - and it could be followed by a final chorus or just finish in the outro-ish way it is on the record. And if I could have another wish I'd want to hear “Doing It Tonight” with an extended percussion section - the two Ians going mad on drums and congas and the rest of the band slapping, thumping and beating like wild on their instruments. That would be a laugh, wouldn't it? Keep the Paice! Stephan Krüger, Tübingen, Germany
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