Whoosh! is the twenty-first studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on August 7, 2020.[4][5] 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!!!".[6] 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".[7] He also said fans should simply listen to the album as an enjoyable experience.[7]
The album was originally set to be released on 12 June 2020, but was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] Gillan said that was because distribution lines for physical media should wait until lockdowns eased and restrictions lifted.[6]
Three songs from the album were released as digital singles, beginning with "Throw My Bones".[1] 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.[9]
Releaseedit
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. [10]
The album received generally favourable reviews.[11] Several publications noticed the album contained relatively short tracks and praised the economical songwriting style.[12][9] A review in NME said the album sounded nothing like contemporary music of 2020, but suggested that "maybe that's a good thing".[7]
With a peak position of number 4, it was the band's highest-charting studio album in the United Kingdom for 46 years.
Track listingedit
All tracks are written by Deep Purple and Bob Ezrin except where noted
^ abHadusek, Jon (20 March 2020). "Deep Purple Share New Song "Throw My Bones": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^Lifton, Dave (30 April 2020). "Listen to Deep Purple's New 'Man Alive' Single". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^Divita, Joe (10 July 2020). "Deep Purple Release Classic Sounding New Song 'Nothing at All'". Loudwire. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^Kielty, Martin (27 February 2020). "Deep Purple Announce New Album 'Whoosh!'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^Everley, Dave (29 February 2020). "Deep Purple announce new album Whoosh! and European tour". Louder Sound. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^ ab"Deep Purple Plan 21st Album, 'Whoosh!'". Rolling Stone. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
^ abcdLeonie Cooper (6 August 2020). "Deep Purple – 'Whoosh!' review: rockers' 21st record is stupidly fun and outrageously silly". NME. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
^Munro, Scott (3 April 2020). "Deep Purple push back release of new album Whoosh!". Louder Sound. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
^ abcNeil Jeffries (7 August 2020). "Deep Purple's Whoosh!: confident, mature, and superb". Louder Sound. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
^"Australiancharts.com – Deep Purple – Whoosh!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
^"Austriancharts.at – Deep Purple – Whoosh!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
^"Ultratop.be – Deep Purple – Whoosh!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
^"Ultratop.be – Deep Purple – Whoosh!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
^"Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 33.Týden 2020 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
^"Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 32, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Deep Purple – Whoosh!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 August 2020.