PERFECT STRANGERS

Talking about music, especially rock or prog rock, I can not judge them merely only based on the music itself. This is true for me personally even though in most cases the music itself contributes a lot in terms of total value meaning to me. This seems true as well for other people like a friend of mine who has been currently bombarding me to have a closer look on punk music not in the music itself but more on the "anti-establishment" move the punk music brought with them. This gentleman, Rizal B Prasetijo, has even purchased me a book titled "Rotten" (or something like that because I did not really pay attention to its title) and a CD by the Sex Pistol "Never Mind The Bollocks". Well, I do appreciate his effort and definitely I would have a look on it.

What Sex Pistols and Punk got to do with Deep Purple? Nothing! I'm just trying to put things into perspective: how other factors than a music have created certain value to me. I have not been studying Sex Pistols until now but I started to purchase some CDs on early development of punk, like The Stooges (Iggy Pop) in 1970 which the music built the basis for punk. This long background is basically important for me to share with you on how I appreciate music and musicians. Please note, if I was given a chance to restart my life, I would choose to become a guitar player and composer of prog rock music. Music is so important to my life.

As far as Deep Purple "Perfect Strangers" album, I actually got nothing special (musically) by the time the album was released in 1984. I seldom played the cassette because I did not think the songs were okay for my taste. But recently, about a month ago, I had an informal but intense music discussion with my colleagues at i-Rock! (Indonesian largest rock community today): Riza and Eric. I was stunned when Riza shared his story about how Deep Purple "Perfect Strangers" is so memorable for him. He said that by the time he got the album, no one in his school knew that Deep Purple still alive that year. Everyone in the world knew that Deep Purple was disbanded. So when he got the cassette, he was so proud to show to his schoolmates that he got the NEW DEEP PURPLE. According to him all of his friends were very surprised knowing the "never heard before" album. That event has made "Perfect Strangers" very special for him personally. I was touched with his story. So, once I got home, I pulled this CD from my CD shelf where this CD was rarely played since the time I purchased it. I think this CD has only been played maximum three times since the day of purchase. Most of the spin I made with regards to this album was when I had it on cassette format.

Musically, nothing is compelling about this album even though there is no such thing as bad track. Everything flows naturally. This was the first time after the news that Deep Purple was disbanded and they reunited the best line-up in their career, i.e. Mark II : Gillan, Blackmore, Lord, Paice and Glover. I actually expected more from this album. My colleague Eric during the discussion commented that this reunion was due to the news that some ex Deep Purple Mark I members made a series of concerts using Deep Purple's name. This news made Blackmore got mad and start calling other band members of Mark II to reform the band. The result was this album.

The catchy part of this album is of course, the radio hit "Perfect Strangers", a slow rock ballad which has a good melody. All other tracks are good and resemble the traditional elements of Deep Purple. "Wasted Sunsets" was once became a radio hit as well in my country. Songs like "Hungry Daze", "Nobody' Home" and "mean Streak" indicate the characteristics of Deep Purple music. Ritchie's guitar solo is not as brave as their albums in the 70s but it still has its unique sound peculiar to Ritchie.

Overall, this is of course not the best album to start with Deep Purple. This was intended to send a message to rock fans that the band still existed and the music is not bad at all. It's a must for hard rock fans especially Deep Purple freaks. Keep on rockin ' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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