Deep Purple
Perfect Strangers

THE REVIEW

Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers

As a true metalhead, I constantly listen to very "intense" records by bands that, most of the time, belong to the "unknown name-demented cover" species. However, when I feel like relaxing with some "old" hard rock, there are no hesitations, and this album is among my top choices.

"Perfect Strangers" was born from the reunion of the historical core, announced at a press conference in Connecticut, in Greenwich, on November 3, 1984. Recorded at Horizons Studios in Stowe in the height of summer '84 and at Tennessee Tonstudios in Hamburg in September of the same year, the album marks the return of one of the most important rock bands of the last 30 years, "guilty" of having formalized that "famous" hard rock invented by Led Zeppelin.
Almost entirely written by the "Men in black," the record boasts of high-level sound solutions and a more updated and technical musical formula compared to the old works.
Much of the credit for the album’s beauty goes to Ritchie Blackmore himself.
The historic guitarist was never a technical genius, but with his "Strat," he has always expressed a unique and inimitable sound, always associated with his commendable touch and his immortal solos.
The riffs, as elementary as they are elegant, are the supporting pillars of "Perfect Strangers" and coexist consistently with their typical fresh and lively sound. The refrains, by Ian Gillan, true touches of class, are always perfect and serve as a dividing line between moments of pure hard rock, with uncommon intensity, and those that are more atmospheric and melodic.
Ian Paice and Roger Glover make synchronization their daily bread, seasoned by Jon Lord’s piano that harmonizes the tracks, balancing the dynamic parts with the darker ones.
The excellent performances of the 5 musicians, who manage to recreate pleasant atmospheres in the context, give life to an enjoyable record that reunites all the influences of the former bands of Paice, Blackmore, and Lord.
The excellent duo of the latter two, the true soul of Deep Purple, is indeed remarkable.
Historic tracks like the enchanting title track, the eccentric "A Gypsy's Kiss," and "Knocking at Your Back Door," make "Perfect Strangers" a milestone of hard rock, which together with "Machine Head" stands as one of the best studio albums made by the group.

In a few words, a..... "Perfect disk"....