stormbringer + dvd

by

Deep Purple

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Stormbringer the second album from deep purple Mark 3, finally gets the deluxe treatment, in this case in the form of CD and DVD (more on eth DVD to follow).

The music is a step up from the slick hard funk sound that characterised the `Burn' album, with the influence of `Coverdale' and `Hughes' in evidence throughout songs like `Stormbringer' and `Love don't mean a thing'. this album also contains probably my favourite Deep purple mark 3 song `Soldier of Fortune', a song a strong as any in the Deep purple cannon, and one which makes me think that if Richie Blackmore had not bailed out after this album a third album might just have been the best of the lot. The album its self is re-mastered on CD in the modern style i.e. squashing the dynamics a bit and making the music sound LOUD. Also on CD are Five bonus tracks the most interesting of which is `Love don't mean a thing' which is around a minute longer.

The best though is the DVD which contains the original Quad mix from 1974 for that alone EMI/Purple records are to be applauded, How many more Quad mixes are their in the record company archives waiting to be released like this. The Quad mix is very old school, i.e. no movement in the instruments and a lot of the time an instrument in each corner, nice. This mix is available to listen to in DTS 5.1 with a different single or album sleeve per song shown on your TV, or as a stereo mix down in PCM. Again applause to EMI for providing a PCM track at better that 16 bit. The one let down is the fact that a full strength DVDA track could have been added there is enough space on the disc; however this should not stop you buying the album. On the whole a nice package with copious sleeve notes and some great hard funk music. Now where is `Come taste the band' anniversary edition?

I'll make it clear that i'm not the biggest fan of Stormbringer, it came out at a difficult time in my life and it just never clicked. I had it on vinyl (still got it) and twice on cassette (binned years ago) I saw purple on the Burn tour and had followed then since In Rock. I loved Burn but Stormbringer just dissapointed me on so many levels. Don't start me on Come Taste the Band, i have it on vinyl and hate it, always have.

I've bought all the remasters and liked them all so i just thought i've got nothing to lose as i have an SACD/DVD-A player so at least it'll be interesting. And i have to say although i still dont rate it it's far better than i expected, the quad mix is good but dated to modern day multi-channel mixes. Yes theres no hi-res, but i have a few true DVD-A discs that sound worse than this so it's no real loss.

Strangely i now think Holy Man is the best track on it, and i can remember hating it when the album came out.

I think if you know the album but like me wasn't going to bother then have a re-think, you might be surprised.