Search - Episode 6 :: Love Hate Revenge: the Roots of Deep Purple

For fans of Pop Psychedelia, but not necessarily of Deep Pur

Chris Frohring | Cleveland, OH USA | 11/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Episode Six is an unfortunate victim of it's member's eventual stardom, and a beneficiary at the same time. Most people will investigate Episode Six because it was a springboard for future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. This doesn't mean that those people will appreciate the contents of this CD, which is decidedly Pop and rarely rocks. With the exceptions of "Mr. Universe" and "Mozart Vs. The Rest", most of this collection presents a diverse array of Pop confections, and not the pioneering Hard Rock/Progressive sound that Deep Purple is known for. That having been said, this collection compiles some great obscure sides from the Psychedelic Era, including the highly innovative singles "Love Hate Revenge" and their masterpiece "I Can See Through You". The original compositions display what an important contributor Roger Glover could be to any band in which he was a member. Clearly, the highlights are his original compositions (see "Only Lonely People"), Ian Gillan's versatile, powerful vocals and Tony Lander's impressive guitar skills. Episode Six also included keyboardist/vocalist Shirley Carter, who added another dimension to their sound. Like NRBQ, Episode Six suffered commercially due to a wildly eclectic range of styles that, while making them an extremely popular live act, hindered their label's ability to market them. Nevertheless, this collection will appeal to fans of late-60's Pop and Psychedelia as well as offer insight into the talents of Ian Gillan and, especially, Roger Glover."