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Deep Purple - In The Absence Of Pink: Knebworth 85 CD (album) cover

IN THE ABSENCE OF PINK: KNEBWORTH 85

Deep Purple

 

Proto-Prog

3.38 | 35 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars It has always been my habit whenever I had so many things to listen with prog music, I sometimes swithced to Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath for a change. This time I pick this live album by Deep Purple for one simple reason: I want to experience what it's like to have Difficult to Cure being played here with Made In Japan line-up - for most people this line-up is the best for the band. As usual, whenever I listen to the vintage rock music my mind always return back to the glory days of rock music in the seventies especially when I spin the first three tracks of Disc 1. The first track is quite different with any live setup the band made i.e the inclusion of Beethoven's The Fifth at the opening of Highway Star. Well, it sounds funny but it gives new experience to me, it's like listening to Deep Purple with Yes nuance because it connects me to having an experience listening to Yessongs where it has Firebird Suite at the opening of the show.

At the third track Strange Kind of Woman I find something really similar with the one the band performed in Made In Japan on the beginning part of the song. But when the music flows, it has portion of Jesus Christ Superstar with Gillan singing on it combined with legendary solo guitar by Ritchie and Paice drumming. Then it came the duo of vocal and guitar with Gillan's scream and Ritchie's guitar work. It creates great listening experience as the live vibes sound like around us while listening to this record.

'Difficult to Cure' is an adaptation of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' from the 9th Symphony and was recorded by Blackmore's Rainbow some years earlier. It makes this record special as it was more on Rainbow stuff than Deep Purple. But I am not surprised as Ritchie also brought together with him the blues rock guitar solo he performed in Rainbow On Stage record here under Gypsy's Kiss on Disc One as well.

Well, it's a very good live record and it reminds me back to the glory days of rock in the seventies even though the audio quality is not that good It's OK as I only need the live vibes and excellent performance by the band. There are many improvisations demonstrated by the band members especially Ritchie, Jon and Ian. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Gatot | 3/5 |

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