'One Eye To Morocco'

Ian Gillan’s career has been a lengthy voyage, filled with various changes in his musical path. Deep Purple were often tagged as a heavy metal act, but that was not the view taken by the likes of Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice and the many other Purple members who have come and gone.

Let’s face it, when Purple first burst on the scene in the late ‘60s, the term heavy metal wasn’t even in use, and they were certainly not anything close at that point. Were they when they were cranking out Highway Star or Speed King? I don’t think so. They could always show light and dark if you ask me. Hard rock perhaps, metal no. Whatever you may have thought, at the start they could only be classed as contemporary rock.

At the time he left Purple in the mid ‘70s Gillan went on to form the jazz / space rock driven Ian Gillan Band, who were very talented musicians but the music was not like what Purple had done. He then dropped “Ian” and “Band” from the name and just went with Gillan. The first release of this band was the very different Mr. Universe in 1978, an album with a style more hard rock driven. Glory Road followed in 1980 and this was a very clever compilation of the many influences that had crossed his musical career previously.

The Gillan band continued through the release of Magic, after which Gillan jumped into Black Sabbath in 1983, for the Born Again album and tour. Then he reunited with the classic “Mark 2” Deep Purple lineup in 1984 for the excellent Perfect Strangers. He was then out of Purple again in ’89, before rejoining in 1992 and has been there since. Along the way he has released five of his own solo albums along with some other side projects. Where does he find the time, with Purple’s busy schedule?

The title track, “One Eye To Morocco” has a mystical, Eastern feel to it. I personally feel his voice phrasing on this track isn’t that far away from that of David Bowie. In a recent interview, I don’t think he was too pleased with that comment, even though it was not meant in a bad way. Mr. Bowie has done much excellent work. This is a great track that has certainly grown on me.

“No Lotion For That” is very reminiscent of the ‘80s Gillan period -- a hard, edgy rock and roll vibe that he told me in a recent interview was “pure Chuck Berry.” See what you think.

“Don’t Stop” almost feels like something Jeff Lynne might have produced, with a bit of a Latin twist. Fun, clever stuff.

“Change My Ways” is a bluesy rock groove, old R&B style, withsome great Hammond keys in there.

With a sub-reggae feel we get “Girl Goes To Show” which has a hint of Bowie in the chorus and a “Come Together”-like verse. It’s certainly something different.

“Better Days” is a real soulful blues track. Enough said.

“Deal With It” wouldn’t feel out of place on a Pink Floyd album. I like it, it’s a smooth track.

Blues and funk combine in the aptly titled “Ultimate Groove.” Jesse O’Brien is no slouch on the keys and I think could do Jon Lord proud if Don Airey decided to move on from Purple!

“Now The Sky Is Falling Down” -- although fairly easy going -- would not be out of place on any current or recent Purple release. Michael Lee Jackson’s guitar work here seems to lie somewhere between Steve Morse and Ritchie Blackmore.

“Texas State of Mind” has a great chugging blues groove to it -- time for a little fun and some honky-tonk piano to boot. Nice one!

“It Would Be Nice” starts laid back and soulful, before stepping into a sub AC/DC bridge, then slips back to the mellow groove, then edgy bridge again before a nice brass solo touch then back and forth as before. Interesting.

Back to a blues groove with “Always The Traveller,” a really nice track to quietly close the album.

Is One Eye To Morocco classic rock? Hard rock? Is it Purple?

Well it’s certainly not classic Purple, but with the direction that they have taken in recent years it’s not too far away, but don’t be expecting anything close to Gillan’s hard rocking ‘80s music or Purple’s Perfect Strangers period.

To me, it’s well played music with Ian Gillan showing us another side. It has some great moments. Does it really grab me? Well, I had to take a break from listening to it and then come back to it here and there, so for me, it’s probably not one that will be visiting my CD player that much. It’s probably more for Gillan purists than for casual listeners.

One Eye To Morocco - Eagle Records - Release date: 3-31-09
Review by Alun Williams