Deep Purple will release their 21st studio album, Whoosh! on August 7th via earMusic. Cleveland.com spoke with frontman Ian Gillan about the album, and an excerpt from the chat follows:

Cleveland.com: What's the process like of making a Deep Purple album these days?

Ian Gillan: "We turn up at noon every day and we work 'til six (o'clock), six days a week. We put the kettle on, have a cup of tea and have a chat, and we start jamming. We record anything interesting that comes out. The joy of just making music six hours a day is better than rehearsing alone. And Bob (Ezrin) is there to say, 'Let's run with this idea. It's working out beautifully. And don't worry about how long it is, it'll all work out.'"

Cleveland.com: Is song length even an issue anymore?

Gillan: "In the back of our mind there's always the 'Smoke On The Water' thing, which never got played on the radio for a year because it was too long. Then a guy from Warner Bros. (Records) came and saw the crowd reaction to 'Smoke On The Water' and rushed back and did an edit, cut it down 50 percent so that it got played on the radio a year after the album was released. So, we were always conscious of that kind of thing. But Bob says, 'Don't worry about anything like that. I don't care how long it is. You want to do a 10-minute track? Do a 10-minute track.' We just want to do what Deep Purple does best, and that's explore the nuances, the textures, the dynamics of a musical idea and just go with it. And Bob trims it as needed."

Read more at Cleveland.com.

Whoosh! will be available as a Standard CD, a Digital Album, a Limited Edition CD+DVD Mediabook (including the 1 hour feature “Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation” and, for the first time, the full live performance at Hellfest 2017 video), and a Vinyl 2LP+DVD edition (earMUSIC). Pre-order here.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Steve Morse, and Don Airey were invited by Bob Ezrin to Nashville to write and record, during which the band were inspired to push their creative boundaries. Letting go of any artistic limitations, they adopted the motto “Deep Purple is putting the Deep back in Purple”. Whoosh! embodies that freedom, with lyrics that reflect their sentiments on the current situation of the world.

“We’ve included everything that made the whole band smile, including Bob Ezrin,” exclaims Morse. “We’ve always enjoyed making music and having the incredible luxury of a loyal audience.”

Whoosh! marks Deep Purple’s third album produced by Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd). The first - 2013’s Now What?! - charted at #1 in five European countries, as well as Top 10 in over 15 countries worldwide. Cementing itself as one of their most successful albums, inFinite, released in 2017, broke chart records the band accumulated over their 50+year history. With chemistry this electric, it only made sense for Deep Purple and Ezrin to collaborate a third time.

“Another album?! Whoosh?!! Gordon Bennett!!!” -Ian Gillan

One of the most important rock bands of all time, Deep Purple has built a legacy that is nothing short of immeasurable. The band continues to evolve and elevate the possibilities within hard rock, which is fully displayed on Whoosh!

“When the Deep Purple falls
Over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle
In the night…” - Ian Gillan

Whoosh! tracklisting:

"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We're All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"
"The Long Way Around"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

Vinyl Side Split:

Side A:
"Throw My Bones"
"Drop The Weapon"
"We’re All The Same In The Dark"
"Nothing At All"

Side B:
"No Need To Shout"
"Step By Step"
"What The What"

Side C:
"The Long Way Round"
"The Power Of The Moon"
"Remission Possible"
"Man Alive"

Side D:
"And The Address"
"Dancing In My Sleep"

Pre-listening teaser:

"Man Alive" video:

"Throw My Bones" video:

(Photo - Ben Wolf)