DEEP PURPLE

Deep Purple's self-titled third album was released in June of 1969, in the very dawn of prog rock, a year that was marked by a shift from the then-massive psychedelia and blues towards a more experimental and challenging approach to creating music. Purple, however, did not yet fully embrace this newly-born and gradually gaining momentum direction; In fact, they finished off the decade with 'more of the same', to put it in a bit of ironic manner. This third studio record is a continuation of the band's psych-rock sound that is the significant trace of the Mark I lineup, gradually exploring some more straightforward songwriting, and also letting Jon Lord to finally present a classical crossover opus, not just some sketchy intros and outros.

A couple of very well-known songs among DP fans; These would, of course, include 'Chasing Shadows', 'Lalena' 'Bird Has Flown', and while speaking about the songs on the band's self-titled album, we have to say that the continue their fashion of presenting covers and original compositions (technically just one cover song - 'Lalena'). As much as I know this record is slightly better received than its two predecessors, this does not really reflect how I feel about it. It is not drastically different, this is certain, and for this reason it begins to sound a bit stale, with some good, ripe ideas, and some dull and directionless ones. Overall, I consider it an ok album, maybe a bit more tiring to listen to than the previous two Purple releases, but containing some enjoyable songs. And yes, I wonder what the band could have sounded like had they continued on in the 70s with Rod Evans on lead vocals, as they never got him to showcase his full and raw power, in my humble opinion. But these are just wonderous wonders. Listen, Learn, Read On!