Deep Purple
A Night Of The Machine

THE REVIEW

Bootleg that features the penultimate concert of the Mark II from the '70s. Unfortunately, the recording is not impeccable; in fact, at times it is decidedly poor, but the energy that bursts out of the stereo speakers is incredible.

It kicks off with a powerful "Highway Star": it's a shame that Gillan's voice can't be heard throughout the first verse, but at the beginning of Blackmore's solo, the audio adjusts itself. Ritchie's glaring mistake towards the end of the solo, yet he manages to make up for it during the rest of the concert… "Smoke On The Water" is somewhat lackluster: the band doesn't seem too convinced, and the piece goes by without infamy or praise. Nevertheless, it continues with an excellent version of "Strange Kind Of Woman," with the band seeming to enjoy playing one of the pieces that, in my opinion, best embodies the fun side of purple.
What stands out is Gillan's voice, which emerges incredibly powerfully: his interpretation of "Child In Time" has such dramatic power that it genuinely makes the listener uncomfortable. It might have been the sadness of the approaching "separation" (the Purple had already decided that Gillan and Glover would leave at the end of that Japanese tour), but the result is literally jaw-dropping. Regarding "Child In Time," it's mandatory to mention the intense middle section, with Blackmore and Lord truly excelling at their craft.

"Lazy," usually introduced at that time by a somewhat psychedelic intro from Jon Lord, is fantastic: the interplay between the organ and guitar immediately conveys joy, making it impossible not to tap your foot… then, when Ritchie's Fender comes in, it's truly delightful! It then continues with Ian Paice's drum solo and "Space Truckin'," a track that becomes more enjoyable with time!
This time, there's also space for a Roger Glover solo, but the true frenzy begins when Blackmore and Lord wildly abuse their instruments to reach a final orgy where sounds and noises blend.

It ends with "Black Night," too bad for Ritchie's guitar, which is barely audible…