Deep Purple
The House Of The Blue Light

Year 1987. The situation of Deep Purple is very clear: live, live and more live. Nothing prevents the band from entering the studio to record their second album after the Mk. II reunion: "The House Of The Blue Light". The CD itself is enjoyable and at times truly sublime, while at others truly disgusting. Yes, I'm referring to "Call Of The Wild", a nod to the pop of that era, a real low point reached by Deep. I consider it one of their most horrendous and daring songs.
Apart from this note of demerit, the CD starts off truly sensationally: the opener, "Bad Attitude", is introduced by a solemn organ and the track also develops in a way that is not excellent but appreciable. Engaging is the rhythm proposed by Ian Paice in the subsequent "The Unwritten Law", the only track signed by the drummer. It will later be reprised in concerts extended by one of his classic solos. After the already discussed "Call Of The Wild", follows a tribute to the one known as mad dog, that is Joe Cocker. "Mad Dog" turns out to be another rather weak and uninspired track. Even the subsequent "Black & White" lacks something to be truly appreciated. But the slump stops here! Yes, because the following 5 tracks are of a completely different level. Let's go in order: "Hard Lovin' Woman" is a reprise, only in the title, of "Hard Lovin Man" and is a piece of great style and driving hard rock. Blackmore threads a bit of epic even in this work, "The Spanish Archer" sees Gillan engaged in imitating what various Dio, Bonnet, and Turner have done in Rainbow. "Strange Ways" is a refined track and out of the Purple standard and this is to its credit. Lord & Blackmore give us two excellent performances. The subsequent "Mitzi Dupree" leans on a classic blues, which however does not give the impression of being a filler, quite the contrary! It turns out, in my opinion, one of the best pieces of the album. The Man In Black gives us a solo that to call scary is an understatement. Its indelible and personal sound echoes in my car stereo forcing me to mime the solo and let the car roll towards its destination. "The House Of The Blue Light" concludes with "Dead Or Alive", hard rock delivered at a remarkable speed, worthy of the best Rainbow. The studio period of the second Mk. II also concludes, after another two years of intense life on the road, Gillan is let go by mutual agreement due to the concurrent work with Glover: "Accidentally On Purpose", but that's another story.