Deep Purple "Whoosh! (CD+DVD, Digipak, Germany, earMusic, 0214135EMU)"

Whoosh! is the twenty-first studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 7 August 2020. Although he appeared on their next album Turning to Crime, this is the last studio album of original material to feature longtime guitarist Steve Morse, who left the band in July 2022.

The group collaborated with producer Bob Ezrin, who had also worked on their previous two albums. They enjoyed the recording and production. Its release was promoted by a series of press statements from singer Ian Gillan, such as "Another album?! Whoosh?!! Gordon Bennett!!!". He explained the album's title was chosen for its onomatopoeic qualities, and "when viewed through one end of a radio-telescope, describes the transient nature of humanity on Earth". He also said fans should simply listen to the album as an enjoyable experience.

The album was originally set to be released on 12 June 2020, but was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gillan said that was because distribution lines for physical media should wait until lockdowns eased and restrictions lifted.

Three songs from the album were released as digital singles, beginning with "Throw My Bones". The third, "Nothing at All", deals with the themes of Mother Nature, man's response to climate change and - in its accompanying music video - plastic pollution.

The instrumental "And the Address" first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 debut album Shades of Deep Purple. The only musician to feature on both recordings was drummer Ian Paice.

The album is divided into "Act 1" (tracks 1 to 6) and "Act 2" (tracks 7 to 12), with "Dancing In My Sleep" being a bonus track present on all editions. However, the double LP does not abide by this division, as "What the What" is the last track on side 2.

There is also a CD+DVD "limited edition" (in mediabook packaging) that includes a full performance of Live At Hellfest 2017 (92 min), and "Roger Glover and Bob Ezrin in conversation (60 min)." This is also included in the Whoosh Box Set. 

The album received generally favourable reviews. Several publications noticed the album contained relatively short tracks and praised the economical songwriting style. A review in NME said the album sounded nothing like contemporary music of 2020, but suggested that "maybe that's a good thing".

With a peak position of number 4, it was the band's highest-charting studio album in the United Kingdom for 46 years.

Tracklist:

Disc 1 (CD)

1. Throw My Bones 03:39   
2. Drop the Weapon 04:23  
3. We're All the Same in the Dark 03:44
4. Nothing at All 04:42  
5. No Need to Shout 03:30  
6. Step by Step 03:34  
7. What the What 03:32   
8. The Long Way Round 05:39   
9. The Power of the Moon 04:08   
10. Remission Possible 01:38  
11. Man Alive 05:35
12. And the Address 03:35
13. Dancing in My Sleep 03:51

Time:  51:30  

Disc 2 (DVD)

1. Roger Glover and Bob Ezrin in conversation 01:08:33  
2. Time for Bedlam 04:55  
3. Fireball 03:26  
4. Bloodsucker 04:10  
5. Strange Kind of Woman 07:50  
6. Uncommon Man 06:44  
7. The Surprising 06:07  
8. Lazy 07:57  
9. Birds of Prey 05:58  
10. Hell to Pay 05:15  
11. Don Airey's Keyboard Solo 05:19  
12. Perfect Strangers 06:12  
13. Space Truckin' 05:03  
14. Smoke on the Water 07:41  
15. Hush (Billy Joe Royal cover) 07:39  
16. Black Night 07:53  

Time:  02:40:42  

Live in Hellfest was previously released under the name The Infinite Live Recordings, Vol. 1.

DVD is NTSC, audio is LPCM for the concert, and AC-3 224 kbps for the interview.

Track duration and DVD track list is not printed on the release.

Thanks to:

Max Vaccaro, Bob Ezrin, Matt Clark, Kat Rallis, Sally Long, Kim Markovchick, Anja Obersteller, Alisja Schustereit, Lena Steffens, Isabelle Albrecht and Alina Schütze.

The Deep Purple worldwide team.

Ian Gillan thanks:

Phil Banfield, Maryann Spencer, Sally Long and Matt Clark.

Roger Glover thanks:

Vigier Excess 'Roger Glover Original' and Fender Precision basses.

TC Electronic Blacksmith amplification & effects.

Mickey Lee Soule, Kat Rallis, all the crew on the road.

My family.

Ian Paice thanks:

Pearl drums, Paiste cymbals, Remo drumheads, ProMark sticks, Protection Racket softcases, Hardcase hardcases, May mic system, AKG mics, Beyer Dynamic mics & headphones, HK Stage Monitors, RCF monitors, Klipsch Speakers and Roland Corporation, Chris Ranson and Simone Mezzano.

Steve Morse thanks:

Janine, Marije, Bill, Katya, Ernie Ball, Eddie Trunk, Musicman, Engl. TC Electronic, Dimarzio, Steinberg, Presonus, my family, Sterling Ball, Tommy Alderson, Derek, Brian and Scott Ball and all the loyal supporters.

Don Airey thanks:

Mike Airey, Clive Botterill at Hammond Services UK, Mike Swain at MLS Electronics, J.S. Bach, the Nashville Gang and my family.

Bob Ezrin thanks:

Special thanks to Sound Check;

Faryal Ganjhei at Henson Recording Studios;

Donny DaSilva at Noble Street Studios,

and Richard Evatt at The Sanctuary, Nassau Bahamas.

Publishers:

Deep Purple Live Limited (PRS)

Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd. (PRS)

Dregs Music (BMI)

Ezrinized Tunes/SOCAN

Notting Hill Music (UK) (PRS)

Rugged Music, Ltd. (ASCAP)

except "And The Address": Hec Music Ltd.,

Deep Purple Live Limited as Exclusive Administrator

for Rugged Music, Ltd. and Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd.

Deep Purple Management:

Thanks to Bruce and Barbara for all their services in the past.

Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation:

Recorded at British Grove Studios in London, November 2019.

Deep Purple - Live At Hellfest 2017:

Recorded live at Hellfest, Val de Moine, Clisson, France on June 16, 2017.

"Time For Bedlam", "The Surprising" & "Birds Of Prey" published by Notting Hill Music (UK) (PRS), Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd. (PRS), Dregs Music (BMI), Rugged Music, Ltd. (ASCAP), Deep Purple Live Limited, Ezrin Music/Irving Music Inc. (BMI).

Deep Purple Live Limited as Exclusive Administrator for Rugged Music, Ltd., Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd. and Dregs Music.

"Uncommon Man" & "Hell To Pay" published by Notting Hill Music (UK) (PRS), Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd. (PRS), Rugged Music, Ltd. (ASCAP), Deep Purple Live Limited, Ezrin Music/Irving Music Inc. (BMI).

"Fireball", "Bloodsucker", "Strange Kind Of Woman", "Lazy" & "Space Truckin'" published by HEC Music.

"Perfect Strangers" published by Deep Purple Live Limited & Pussy Music Ltd.

"Smoke On The Water" & "Black Night" published by Henrees Music Co.

"Peter Gunn" published by Northridge Music Company.

"Hush" published by Bike Music.

℗ & © 2020 Edel Germany GmbH. earMUSIC is a project of Edel.

Made in Germany by Optimal Media GmbH.

Recording information:

Mixed at Anarchy Studios, Nashville, TN, USA; Anarchy Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; and The British Grove, London, England.

Recorded at The Tracking Room, Nashville, TN, USA.

Vocal and Additional Recording at Noble Street Studios, Toronto, Canada; Anarchy Studios, Nashville, TN, USA; Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Bob Ezrin – producer, mixing, percussion, backing vocals

Julian Shank – engineer, mixing

Alex Krotz, Jamie Sickora – engineers

Zach Pepe – engineer assistant

Justin Cortelyou – mixing, tracking

Jason Elliott, Justin Francis – mixing

Bryce Robertson – tracking assistant

Eric Boulanger – mastering

John Metcalfe – orchestral arrangements on "Man Alive"

Alan Umstead – conductor on "Man Alive"

Nick Spezia – orchestra recording on "Man Alive"

Ben Wolf – band photography

Elena Saharova – landscape photography

Jekyll & Hyde – cover art, design

Additional credits for Man Alive:

Orchestra Recording at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN, USA.

Mastered at The Bakery, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation:

Recorded at British Grove Studios in London in November 2019.

Deep Purple - Live At Hellfest 2017:

Recorded live at Hellfest, Val de Moine, Clisson, France on June 16th, 2017.