Bananas

Bananas is a record on which Deep Purple, using blues-based riffs, Hammond organ and soaring singing, offers the deep breath particular to an experienced veteran band. It is the first album with a new lineup, on which the master Don Airey joined as keyboardist in place of the longtime Jon Lord. Rather than flashily reproducing the past, it slowly generates heat from the dialogue of the playing and a loose groove. Beyond the push of weighty hard rock, blues, progressive rock and at times a slightly quirky pop sense mix naturally. That flexible, broad musicality builds an ongoing image of Deep Purple that is not mere nostalgia. The lineup welcoming a new keyboardist blends in surprisingly naturally. The dialogue woven by Steve Morse’s fluid guitar and Don Airey’s varied keyboards is full of a fresh appeal particular to this new lineup. Unforced yet with the core of the playing not wavering at all, carrying tradition while resounding in the present tense, it is a richly flavored, fulfilling record in the manner of mature Deep Purple.